Child Malnutrition

Abstract

Malnutrition has become an urgent global health issue, with undernutrition killing or disabling millions of children each year. Malnutrition also prevents millions more from reaching their full intellectual and productive potential. In children, severe malnutrition accounts for approximately 1 million deaths annually1, with approximately 20 million children under the age of five suffering from severe malnutrition. In 2010, 7.6 million children across the world died before reaching their fifth birthday, while in 2011 an estimated 165 million children under the age of five were stunted (low height for age) and 101 million were underweight2. Malnutrition causes children to be more susceptible to illness, and results in long-term effects on children’s development and health.