MP Kids Fall Short On Nutrition: 23% Underweight, 39% Stunted; Rates Far Above National Average
Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): The percentage of underweight and wasted children in Madhya Pradesh is more than double the national average. And in last one year, the percentage of stunted children has grown while that of underweight children has remained unchanged in the state. According to Poshan Tracker, in August 2026, 7% of children in the 0-5 years age group in the state were wasted. This is more…
Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh: The nutrition status of children in the state is strikingly poor, with rates of malnourishment far above the national average. According to the Poshan Tracker, 7% of children aged 0-5 in the state are wasted, more than double the national average of 3%. A similar disparity is seen with underweight children, where 23% of the state's children fall below the national average of 11%.
Stunting, a condition where children are too short for their age, affects 39% of Madhya Pradesh's children, a worrying increase from 35% in the past year. The federal average is 28%. The situation is most dire in some districts, with nearly half of children in Sheopur, Shivpuri, and Ashoknagar being stunted. In contrast, the state's obesity rate has risen from 2% to 3% in the past year, a new challenge arising amidst widespread malnourishment.
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