National desk
23 October
Sandeep Dhand Ludhiana
A new study highlights that 77% of children aged 6-23 months in India do not receive a diverse diet, as per World Health Organization (WHO) standards. The states with the highest rates of inadequate dietary diversity include Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh, where more than 80% of children have limited food variety. In contrast, Sikkim and Meghalaya show the lowest rates of inadequate diversity, around 50%.
The WHO recommends using the Minimum Dietary Diversity (MDD) score to assess children’s diet quality. A diverse diet should include breast milk, eggs, pulses, nuts, fruits, and vegetables. Data from the National Family Health Survey shows that the failure rate for minimum dietary diversity has decreased from 87.4% in 2005-06 to 77%, but the problem persists.
The study, published in the National Medical Journal of India, also found that the use of eggs in children’s diets has increased, while the use of breast milk and dairy products has decreased. Anemic and low birth weight children were found to be more likely to lack dietary diversity. Researchers urge the government to take comprehensive steps to improve children’s diets.