New Delhi— Nearly one million children under the age of five died worldwide in 2023 due to factors linked to poor growth, including being underweight, stunted or wasted, according to a new study published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health. India recorded more than 100,000 of these deaths, while Nigeria topped the list with 188,000 fatalities. The Democratic Republic of Congo ranked third with over 50,000 deaths.
Researchers said “child growth failure” significantly increases the risk of death from diseases such as diarrhoea, malaria, measles and lower respiratory infections. The findings draw from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023, which tracks health losses across 204 countries.
Global deaths linked to growth failure have declined sharply from 2.75 million in 2000 to 0.8 million in 2023. However, sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia continue to carry a heavy burden, with more than 600,000 and 165,000 deaths among children under five, respectively.
The study’s authors noted that the causes behind child growth failure are complex and interconnected, ranging from feeding challenges and food insecurity to climate change, war and inadequate sanitation. They stressed that no single solution can address the issue across all regions.
Researchers estimated that child growth failure was associated with 79.4 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) lost and 880,000 deaths among under-fives in 2023. Being underweight contributed to the highest share of deaths at 12 per cent, followed by wasting at nine per cent and stunting at eight per cent.
In South Asia, growth failure played a major role in 79 per cent of diarrhoeal deaths and 53 per cent of lower respiratory infection deaths among children under five. Regions with higher income levels saw significantly lower proportions.
Most children who develop stunting show signs within the first three months of life, highlighting the need for interventions before and during pregnancy. The study also warned that wasting and stunting often reinforce each other, creating a damaging cycle that worsens as children age.
Researchers said growth failure in early infancy may indicate babies born prematurely or with low birth weight, while in later months it may reflect chronic malnutrition, repeated infections or other underlying conditions.
