Stunting or stunted growth is a reflection of the failure of children (especially in the first 1000 days of life) to receive adequate nutrition over a long period of time and can also be affected by recurrent and chronic illnesses. The height (or length)-for-age index is used to measure stunting and gives an indication of linear growth retardation and cumulative growth deficits in children. Besides the short stature of most stunted children, stunting is also reflected by poor cognitive development of children. When all this is not corrected soon enough, it may become an irreversible damage that will affect the child’s productivity in future as well as the economic growth of the nation at large.
