Comparative Study of Determinants of Nutritional Status of School Children in Different Indian Cities

Abstract

Childhood undernutrition and overnutrition coexist in urban India, reflecting socioeconomic and regional disparities. This study compares the nutritional status of school-age children across seven major Indian cities—Ernakulam, Thiruvananthapuram, Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, and Kolkata—using data from National Family Health Survey-5 (2019–21). Key indicators including stunting, wasting, underweight, and overweight are examined along with household, maternal, and environmental determinants. The findings highlight marked inter-city variation and underscore the role of maternal education, household wealth, sanitation, and urban living conditions in shaping child nutritional outcomes.

KEYWORDS

School children, Nutritional status, Urban India, NFHS-5, Stunting, Wasting.