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Child growth is internationally recognized as an important indicator of nutritional status and health in populations. The percentage of children with a low height-for-age (stunting) reflects the cumulative effects of undernutrition and infections since birth, and even before birth.
Malnutrition is treatable, but some effects can linger. Effects of severe undernutrition, such as blindness from vitamin A deficiency, soft bones from vitamin D deficiency and stunted growth from protein-energy undernutrition in children may not be reversible, even after rehabilitation.
Women, infants, children, and adolescents are at particular risk of malnutrition. Optimizing nutrition early in life –including the 1000 days from conception to a child’s second birthday – ensures the best possible start in life, with long-term benefits.
Undernutrition in children has been linked to poor mental development and school achievement as well as behavioural abnormalities. However, there is still a debate in the literature regarding whether some of these effects are permanent or reversible.
Childhood undernutrition may result in long-term effects that are irreversible, including impaired physical growth and cognitive development [7,8,9]. Furthermore, undernutrition may reduce sensory-motor abilities, reproductive function and increase children’s vulnerability to infections and hereditary diseases, such as diabetes [ 9 , 10 ].
Nearly half of all deaths in children under 5 are attributable to undernutrition; undernutrition puts children at greater risk of dying from common infections, increases the frequency and severity of such infections, and delays recovery.
Malnutrition can have short- and long-term effects on the physical and mental health of children and youth, with symptoms including short stature, low energy levels, being thin or bloated, or having a weak immune system. In the longer-term, malnutrition may lead to high blood pressure, heart diseases, type 2 diabetes, obesity and other diseases.