New Delhi, April 27 -- Children living in India's hills and mountains are at an increased risk of stunted growth, with the risk increasing with rise in altitude, according to new research published in the British Medical Journal Nutrition, Prevention & Health. Analysing data of more than 1.65 lakh children under five years of age, researchers observed that stunting was more common among those born as a third or later child to parents, and those having a small size at birth. Data was included from the 2015-16 National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4) for analysis. The WHO standards were used to define stunting.
The researchers, including those from Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, suggested that continuous exposure to high altitud...