Stunted growth

Lore & Background

Stunted growth develops from a range of direct and indirect causes, often in the context of poverty and food insecurity. Causes include poor fetal growth in the womb, unsafe sanitation, poor quality drinking water, childhood infections and diarrhea, and malnutrition in the mother or child. Almost all stunting occurs within the 1,000-day period from conception to a child's second birthday, which constitutes a window of opportunity for growth promotion. The three main causes in South Asia and most developing countries are poor feeding practices, poor maternal nutrition, and poor sanitation.

Reader's Guide

Stunted growth has severe consequences for individuals and societies. Affected children generally do not recover lost height, and once stunting occurs, its effects are often long-lasting. Stunted children may experience worse cognitive development, poorer health in adulthood, and higher risk of chronic non-communicable conditions such as diabetes and obesity. On a societal level, stunting can limit economic development and productivity, and it has been estimated that it can affect a country's GDP by up to 3%. The global percentage of stunted growth decreased from 33% to 22.3% between 2000 and 2022, with the largest drop in Asia. Despite global progress, the prevalence of child stunting was greater than 30% in 28 countries in 2022, most of which are in sub-Saharan Africa. Stunting can be passed to the next generation, known as the intergenerational cycle of malnutrition.

Did You Know?

• Around 25% of stunting cases could be attributed to five or more episodes of diarrhea before two years of age.
• Women of shorter stature have a greater risk for complications during childbirth due to their smaller pelvis.
• More than 85% of the world's stunted children live in Asia and Africa.