posts_gdocs: 10_Rd495M2omFB-oWqDk3Sey7TXONQI3HoP-rIRiLcOA
Data license: CC-BY
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10_Rd495M2omFB-oWqDk3Sey7TXONQI3HoP-rIRiLcOA | stunting-definition | article | {
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"text": "Stunting is one of the leading measures used to assess childhood malnutrition. It indicates that a child has failed to reach their growth potential as a result of disease, poor health and malnutrition.",
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"text": "A child is defined as \u2018stunted\u2019 if they are too short for their age. This indicates that their growth and development have been hindered.",
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"text": "Stunting is not just an issue during childhood. It affects both physical and cognitive development \u2013 impacts that can persist throughout someone\u2019s life. There is some evidence to suggest that \u2018catch-up growth\u2019 is possible: that it is possible to reverse some of these impacts if environmental conditions significantly improve. But this is not always the case.",
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"text": "How is stunting measured?",
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"text": "Stunting is measured based on a child\u2019s height relative to their age.",
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"text": "The World Health Organization (WHO) sets out global growth curves \u2013 these show the expected trajectory of a child\u2019s growth from birth through to adulthood. Of course, we would not expect everyone to be exactly the same height \u2013 there is a range of factors, such as genetics, which influence our height and are not a reflection of poor health or malnutrition. These growth curves therefore span a range of heights.",
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"text": "We see these growth curves for boys and girls in the chart. The median growth curve is shown by the thick line. The ribbons around this median show the \u2018acceptable\u2019 range. This range is ",
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"text": "A child whose height falls below the bottom of the ribbon \u2013 that is, two standard deviations below their expected height for their age \u2013 is defined as \u2018stunted\u2019.",
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"text": "In a population, the prevalence of stunting is defined as ",
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"text": "the share of children under five years old that fall two standard deviations below the expected height for their age",
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"text": "To estimate the prevalence of stunting, researchers draw on household and demographic surveys, which include measurements of childhood growth, alongside official health data from governments that monitor child development.",
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"text": "What are the causes of stunting?",
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"text": "Stunting can occur throughout childhood, but is largely determined by a child\u2019s \u201cfirst 1,000 days\u201d. This stretches from the period just before conception (meaning the nutritional status of mothers is very important) through to the child\u2019s second birthday. This is when a child experiences its most rapid phase of growth and development.",
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"text": "Stunting occurs when a child does not have sufficient nutrition to grow and develop. This can be caused by a poor diet alone, but is often exacerbated by disease and poor health.",
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"text": "When a child is fighting poor health or disease, its nutritional requirements are often higher \u2013 it needs more energy and nutrients to not only grow, but to also fight infection. The absorption of nutrients might also be impacted. For example, if it experiences repeated bouts of ",
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"text": " \u2013 which are common in children \u2013 its ability to retain nutrients will be severely impacted.",
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"text": "Therefore, to prevent stunting we must ensure mothers have good nutrition and health prior to, and during, pregnancy; a child has access to a sufficient and nutritious diet; has access to ",
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"text": "WHO (2015). ",
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"type": "article",
"title": "What is childhood stunting?",
"byline": "Hannah Ritchie",
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"excerpt": "Stunting is an important marker of childhood malnutrition. But what is it, and how is it measured?",
"dateline": "February 4, 2022",
"subtitle": "Stunting is an important marker of childhood malnutrition. But what is it, and how is it measured?",
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1 | 2023-05-15 22:38:29 | 2022-02-04 14:48:18 | 2024-03-04 12:48:55 | listed | ALBJ4Lsc0gjPDiyxLhXPjkdoWa3nFU2Ak3thrOKo2zK7A2igRbkT9oAbiGKpQgqBdANecFSX0eWvVc38Vsuwqg | Stunting is one of the leading measures used to assess childhood malnutrition. It indicates that a child has failed to reach their growth potential as a result of disease, poor health and malnutrition.1 A child is defined as ‘stunted’ if they are too short for their age. This indicates that their growth and development have been hindered. Stunting is not just an issue during childhood. It affects both physical and cognitive development – impacts that can persist throughout someone’s life. There is some evidence to suggest that ‘catch-up growth’ is possible: that it is possible to reverse some of these impacts if environmental conditions significantly improve. But this is not always the case. <Chart url="https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/share-of-children-younger-than-5-who-suffer-from-stunting"/> # How is stunting measured? Stunting is measured based on a child’s height relative to their age. The World Health Organization (WHO) sets out global growth curves – these show the expected trajectory of a child’s growth from birth through to adulthood. Of course, we would not expect everyone to be exactly the same height – there is a range of factors, such as genetics, which influence our height and are not a reflection of poor health or malnutrition. These growth curves therefore span a range of heights. We see these growth curves for boys and girls in the chart. The median growth curve is shown by the thick line. The ribbons around this median show the ‘acceptable’ range. This range is **two standard deviations** above and below the median. <Image filename="Healthy20height20growth20curves.png" alt=""/> A child whose height falls below the bottom of the ribbon – that is, two standard deviations below their expected height for their age – is defined as ‘stunted’. In a population, the prevalence of stunting is defined as **the share of children under five years old that fall two standard deviations below the expected height for their age**. To estimate the prevalence of stunting, researchers draw on household and demographic surveys, which include measurements of childhood growth, alongside official health data from governments that monitor child development. # What are the causes of stunting? Stunting can occur throughout childhood, but is largely determined by a child’s “first 1,000 days”. This stretches from the period just before conception (meaning the nutritional status of mothers is very important) through to the child’s second birthday. This is when a child experiences its most rapid phase of growth and development. Stunting occurs when a child does not have sufficient nutrition to grow and develop. This can be caused by a poor diet alone, but is often exacerbated by disease and poor health. When a child is fighting poor health or disease, its nutritional requirements are often higher – it needs more energy and nutrients to not only grow, but to also fight infection. The absorption of nutrients might also be impacted. For example, if it experiences repeated bouts of [diarrheal diseases](http://ourworldindata.org/diarrheal-diseases) – which are common in children – its ability to retain nutrients will be severely impacted. Therefore, to prevent stunting we must ensure mothers have good nutrition and health prior to, and during, pregnancy; a child has access to a sufficient and nutritious diet; has access to [clean water](http://ourworldindata.org/water-access), [sanitation](http://ourworldindata.org/sanitation) and [hygiene facilities](http://ourworldindata.org/hygiene) to prevent infection; and has adequate treatment to recover quickly from disease and poor health. --- # Keep reading at Our World in Data ### Explore our page on hunger and undernourishment https://ourworldindata.org/hunger-and-undernourishment WHO (2015). [Stunting in a nutshell](https://www.who.int/news/item/19-11-2015-stunting-in-a-nutshell). World Health Organization. | What is childhood stunting? |