A recent study has shed light on the alarming prevalence of malnourished children in India who haven’t consumed any food in the past 24 hours, commonly referred to as ‘zero-food’ children. This phenomenon is not unique to India but is also prevalent in other low and middle-income countries, mirroring rates seen in West African nations like Guinea, Benin, Liberia, and Mali.
Accessing sufficient nutritious food remains a challenge for many children globally, primarily due to socioeconomic and environmental factors. Undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies persist as significant public health concerns worldwide.
A Harvard study, published in the peer-reviewed journal JAMA Network Open, revealed that the prevalence of “zero-food children” reaches as high as 21% in some countries. These zero-food children, aged between 6 and 23 months, have not consumed any milk, formula, or solid food within the past day.
Of the 92 countries included in the study, India stands out with the largest number of zero-food children, totaling 6.7 million, accounting for nearly half of all zero-food children identified. Nigeria follows closely behind with 962,000 zero-food children, trailed by Pakistan with 849,000, Ethiopia with 772,000, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo with 362,000.
