Stunting, underweight and overweight: a major health problem among pre-school children in urban areas of West Bengal, India

Abstract

Background: Malnutrition is still highly pervasive in developing countries, and pre-school age children may be a particular high-risk population. However, nutritional status of this group is poorly documented, particularly in urban areas.

Aims: To assess the stunting, underweight, thinness and overweight in urban Bengalee pre-school age children.

Methods:  A total of 1060 children aged 1-3 years who attended the immunisation clinic of Midnapore District Red Cross Hospital of West Bengal, India during three years were enrolled in the study. The prevalence of underweight and stunting in pre-school age children were assessed using the SD classification based on the 2007 World Health Organization (WHO) child growth standards. The BMI classification was also used to assess thinness, overweight and obesity.

Results: Mean anthropometric variables were significantly higher among the boys than girls (p≤ 0.05). The results showed that the prevalence of undernutrition, particularly stunting (50.9%), was much higher than underweight (28.6%). The prevalence of underweight was more pronounced among boys. Conversely, girls tended to be more stunted than boys. The study revealed that approximately14.4% of pre-school age children were overweight and that

boys (16.6%) exhibited more overweight compared to girls (11.8%). The study also indicated the co-occurrence of stunting and overweight among the participants.

Conclusions: The present study emphasised that malnutrition is a growing public health issue, regardless of as stunting and overweight were highly prevalent among the Bengalee pre-school age children in urban areas of West Bengal.