What does the NIN survey indicate? Out of the seven thousand children, in the
age group 1-5 years examined in the survey from many states in the country, 45%
of children are underweight. Their weight was less than what is expected by normal
standards. These children are in fact hunger stricken and not getting adequate food.
Unless they are severely underweight, it may not be easily visible or identifiable.
Going just by common sense, we fail to realise that enormous number of children
in the country are underweight. We are so used to seeing such children that we take
this as “normal”. The survey jolts our common sense and makes us realise that this
situation would seriously affect the growth and capacities of nearly half of the
total number of children in the country.

“The overall prevalence of underweight was about 45% and it was significantly
higher among 3-5 year, compared to 1-3 year children. The prevalence was more
than 50% in the States of Gujarat (58%), Madhya Pradesh (56.9%) and Uttar
Pradesh (53.2%) and observed lowest in Kerala (24%). …

“The overall prevalence of severe underweight was about 16%. …”

Nutritionists compare three different charts
for pre-school children. This is given below.
These three different indicators give us an overall
picture of the nutritional status of these children.

The nutrition status among adult men and women is measured using Body Mass
Index(BMI). You have read about this in earlier classes.[BMI=(weight in kgs/
height in metres squared).]