Our Very Height Of Eating

In general, lower heights are associated with poor nutrition, and also with low cognitive abilities.?

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India slipped to the 101st position on the 2021 GHI (Global Hunger Index) rankings, behind Pakistan on the 92nd position and Bangladesh and Nepal both on the 76th position, from the 94th position in 2020. GHI measures four indicators - undernourishment, children with low weight for height (wasting), low height for age (stunting), and child mortality (death of a child before or at the age of 5). Covid-19 also hit India badly.?

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A September 2021 study in PLOS (Public Library of Science) showed that Indian men were getting shorter! Over 15 years, the 15 to 25 age group was shorter by 1.1 cm, and the 26 to 50 age group by 0.86 cm. Data used was from the NFHS (National Family Health Survey), collected each decade (2005-2006, 2015-2016), and for adults. More than 60,000 and 1,05,000 men were measured respectively.?

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Men were either growing taller everywhere, or stagnating, but not decreasing. It is so due to rising incomes and standards of living. Height does depend on genes, but food intake, access, and health services matter a lot. Malnutrition and undernutrition during the early years cause stunting in adolescence. Heights don't change quickly, naturally, like life expectancy does not. Comparing Oman and Holland, the difference in heights was attributed to access and use of healthcare, despite both having similar per capita incomes. Holland spends 9.2% of its GDP on healthcare, while Oman spends 3.7%. India spent 3.5% of its GDP on healthcare in 2018. Better healthcare in Sub-Saharan Africa is leading to a reverse trend - lower average height. Why? Because children with poor health are now surviving till adulthood pulling down average heights.

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Animal proteins are far better than plant proteins, and the stark difference in the heights of the Dutch and the Korean proves that (both nations with high HDI - Human Development Index). Egg and milk are much better compared to peanuts, lentils, wheat, and chickpeas. Poorer castes and classes in India are much shorter than their richer counterparts, a trend which can be reversed as seen in 19th century England.?

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Sadly, India is not moving towards safer, more nourishing, and sufficient food for all. Multiple types of malnourishment persist - vitamins and minerals, underweightedness, stunting and wasting, obesity, and diet-related NCDs (Non-Communicable Diseases). India needs to do something drastic to change this situation.

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More animal proteins, more diversified food, better use of money in healthcare, and moving away from ultra-processed foods are needed. The GHI study proves that things need to change. Incomes of poorer groups need protection.?

- Aindri Abhishek Singh

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