‘Over 77% of India’s children lack WHO-suggested diversity in diet’

Children of illiterate and rural-residing mothers are more likely to have diets deficient in diversity

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NEW DELHI: A new study has revealed that about 77 per cent of children in India aged 6-23 months lack adequate dietary diversity as per World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines.

The findings underscore the alarming nutritional deficiencies faced by young children, particularly in the country's central region, where the prevalence of inadequate diets is highest.

The research highlights that states like Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh have the worst levels of dietary diversity, with over 80 per cent of children in these regions not meeting the required standards.

By contrast, only two states—Sikkim and Meghalaya—reported a prevalence of inadequate dietary diversity below 50 per cent.

The WHO recommends using the Minimum Dietary Diversity (MDD) score to assess the quality of a child's diet.