Maharashtra Struggles with High Malnutrition Rates With 35% underweight Children

Maharashtra continues to face serious child nutrition challenges, with 35% of children under five stunted, 35% underweight, and 26% wasted, according to a recent report by the Indian Institute of Population Sciences (IIPS), Mumbai. These rates are comparable to those in Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

The study, published on August 7, 2025, in the Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition, used data from the National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5), which surveyed 8,007 children aged six to 59 months across the state. The research was funded by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

As per the study, North Maharashtra is the worst affected, with 44% of children underweight. Researchers link this to lower household incomes. Konkan fares better, though 30% of children there remain underweight. Surprisingly, malnutrition is lower in economically poorer states like Rajasthan and Odisha than in Maharashtra.

Wasting has worsened over the years, rising from 20% in 1992 to 26% in 2021. Stunting and underweight have decreased since the early 1990s, but progress is slow. Nutrition indices showed little change between 2014 and 2019. In Mumbai, over 25% of children suffer from malnutrition, with 27% stunted, 26% wasted, and 28% underweight.

Breastfeeding practices also affect child nutrition. In North Maharashtra, breastfeeding usually begins four hours after birth. Delayed breastfeeding is linked to higher stunting and underweight rates, and children never breastfed face double the risk of wasting. Bottle feeding slightly increases the chance of underweight.

Research from February 2025 shows hunger and protein-energy malnutrition still affect children from Mumbai’s lowest socioeconomic groups. Malnutrition contributes to TB, diarrhoea, stunted growth, low weight, and visible signs like brittle, sparse, golden-colored hair.

The prevalence of processed foods is rising, which adds health risks for children. Some regions, such as Nandurbar and Gadchiroli, face high rates of chronic anaemia, highlighting the uneven nature of the crisis across Maharashtra.