Over three million children die every year of malnutrition, a number accounting for 45% of the world's deaths of children under the age of five, according to a new study published in the journal Lancet.
The first 1,000 days of a child's life are crucial for development, notes the study's authors, who say that undernourishment can come with a host of non-fatal complications:
"This series strengthens the evidence that a nation's economic advancement is tied to the first 1,000 days of every child's life. Malnutrition can haunt children for the rest of their lives. Undernourished children are more susceptible to infectious diseases and achieve less education and have lower cognitive abilities. As a result, undernutrition can significantly impede a country's economic growth."
The study also found that iron and calcium deficiencies contribute to maternal deaths. It adds that 165 million kids per year are stunted in growth because of malnutrition.
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June 05, 2026 16:18 ET A busy week for economic news flow saw a slew of reports being released that reflected the trends in the U.S. labor market. In Europe, economic growth and inflation data gained attention as the European Central Bank and Bank of England head for policy session later in the month. In Asia, the monetary policy session of the Indian central bank was in focus as the country, a major oil importer, reels under the pressures of a weaker rupee and rising inflation.