What effects can chronic undernutrition have on children’s growth and development?

Chronic undernutrition, often manifesting as protein-energy malnutrition, has profound and potentially lasting effects on a child’s growth and development. When children experience prolonged nutritional deficiencies, they are frequently chronically underweight and may fail to develop normally, often resulting in short stature.1

The physical and developmental consequences include:

• Growth and Physical Development: Children may suffer from stunted growth, muscle wasting, and fatigue. Specific conditions like marasmus lead to extreme weight loss and loss of subcutaneous fat, while kwashiorkor can cause edema, which may mask weight loss.213
• Immune Function: Malnutrition is a major cause of immune deficiency. It impairs antibody responses and cell-mediated immunity, rendering children highly susceptible to infectious diseases, such as measles and diarrhea, which can be fatal.342
• Cognitive and Neurological Impact: Particularly during the first year of life, severe starvation can result in reduced brain growth and intellectual functioning that may not be fully restored. There is significant concern regarding the permanent aftereffects of malnutrition on intellectual development.32

While some effects, such as immune system impairment, may be reversible with timely and adequate nutritional rehabilitation, other developmental delays can have long-term consequences.341