Why stunting happens in children and what we can do about it

We often assume a child’s height is all about genetics. But for millions of children in India, being shorter than average has nothing to do with family traits. It is the result of stunting — a chronic indicator of malnutrition, where a child has a low height for their age due to not getting the nutrition and care they need in the most critical early years of life.This episode explores what stunting really is, why it happens, and the critical windows when intervention can make the biggest difference.

Guest: Dr. Vandana Prasad, a community paediatrician and former member of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights.

Host: Devyanshi Bihani

Edited and produced by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian

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