Author(s): Archana Chaudhary

Abstract:
Malnutrition among under-six year children is a major public health problem in India. Nutrition is one of the most essential things of life and plays a crucial role in body growth, development and maintenance of health. Without adequate nutrition it is not possible to maintain health and protection of the body from ailments. Nutrition provides energy to the body which utilises it to perform hundreds of biological and physical activities. Nourishment is one of the most fundamental things of life and assumes an essential job in body development, improvement and upkeep of wellbeing. Without sufficient sustenance it is beyond the realm of imagination to expect to keep up wellbeing and insurance of the body from afflictions. Sustenance gives vitality to the body which uses it to perform several organic and physical exercises. Malnutrition among children is often caused by the synergistic effects of inadequate or improper food intake, repeated episodes of parasitic or other childhood diseases such as diarrhoea and improper care during illness. There are two major types of malnutrition: