There are three well-known parameters for determining the nutritional status of children: stunting (height for age), wasting (weight for height), and underweight (weight for age). On these, Gujarat’s data is tragic as much as shocking, according to an article in News Click. District-wise estimates from the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) based on its survey findings show that districts with the highest burden on malnutrition indicators include Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Dahod, and Banaskantha (for stunting, underweight, and anemia) and Surat Ahmedabad, Panch Mahals, Banaskantha, and Dahod (for wasting). This shows that malnutrition is prevalent both, in big cities as well as among the poorer ones, including those with large tribal populations.
Although the proportion of children suffering from malnutrition has declined over the years, the situation remains dire.