Define Malnutrition. Discuss the Current Status of Malnutrition in India

Malnutrition

• Malnutrition refers to deficiencies, excesses or imbalances in a person’s intake of energy and/or nutrients.

The term malnutrition covers 2 broad groups of conditions 

• Undernutrition: It includes stunting (low height for age), wasting (low weight for height), underweight (low weight for age) and micronutrient deficiencies or insufficiencies (a lack of important vitamins and minerals).
• Obesity: Obesity and diet-related noncommunicable diseases (such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer).

Current Status of Malnutrition in India

• In India, malnourishment in children (stunting, wasting and underweight) under 5 years has reduced as per NHFS-5 (2019-21) from 38.4% to 35.5%, 21.0% to 19.3% and 35.8% to 32.1% respectively as compared to NHFS-4 (2015-16).
• Malnutrition among women aged 15-49 years has also reduced from 22.9% to 18.7%.

Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM)

• It is defined by a very low weight for height, by visible severe wasting, or by the presence of nutritional oedema.
• In children aged 6–59 months, an arm circumference less than 110 mm is also indicative of severe acute malnutrition. At present, there are ~7.7% SAM children in India.

Poshan-Abhiyaan-scheme

National-nutrition-strategy