National
One in Five Children Under Five in Nepal Suffering from Malnutrition, Survey Reveals
By Ranjeet Yadav • 5/2/2026, 1:06:20 PM
Reading time: 3 min
2 May Kathmandu, One in five children under five years of age in Nepal is suffering from moderate acute malnutrition, a recent nationwide nutrition assessment has revealed a worrying reality. The ongoing public health challenge continues to affect thousands of young lives across the country.
📊 The numbers tell the story
The results are part of a national survey that is underway to assess the nutritional status of children in all 753 local levels.
The findings point to a widespread problem, not confined to remote or undeveloped areas but seen increasingly in a number of provinces and communities, say health experts.
Moderate acute malnutrition is a serious condition, whereby children are not getting enough nutrients for healthy growth, have compromised immunity systems and are more susceptible to diseases.
⚠ A stealthy but serious crisis
Experts say malnutrition is often a “invisible” problem because it is not always immediately recognized as the primary cause of illness.
“In many cases it’s not the diseases like pneumonia that kill children but rather the poor nutrition that causes them,” health professionals have observed.
Moderate malnutrition can quickly deteriorate to severe acute malnutrition, which can be a deadly condition if not treated.
🍔 Eating habits is a big concern
One of the main reasons for the increasing problem is the change in eating habits.
The nutrition experts point out:
• Increased consumption of fast food and processed food
- Decreased consumption of locally available nutritious foods
- Not knowing about balanced diets
These factors are leading to poor nutrition even in families with food access.
🧒 Children’s Future Effect
Malnutrition doesn’t just affect physical health – it has long-term consequences.
Poor nutrition can lead to: Children with poor nutrition may have:
- Late physical development
- Poor cognitive development
Reduced learning ability
- Higher risk of infections
Experts say this has long-term effects on productivity and economic development of the country.
📉 Progress Made, Challenges Remain
Nepal has made considerable progress in improving child nutrition over the years.
- Stunting has gone down from 57% in 2001 to 25% in 2022
- Waste reduced from 11% to 8%
But the present findings show that despite some improvement, malnutrition is still a major problem that needs to be dealt with urgently.
🏥 Urgent Call To Action
Health experts are calling for stronger interventions such as:
- Better access to nutritious food
- Parent Awareness Programs
Better child feeding practices
- Government led nutrition campaigns
Without supplementary feeding and early intervention the situation is expected to deteriorate.
🌍 What's Next
Nepal has committed to global nutrition targets under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for substantially reducing malnutrition by 2030.
But experts say that to achieve these goals it will take:
- Political will (strong)
- Inter-sectoral coordination
- Public participation
📌 Abstract
The fact that 1 in 5 children in Nepal suffers from malnutrition is a serious wake up call.
Despite progress, the continued existence of this problem demonstrates the urgent need for coordinated and sustained efforts to ensure every child has access to proper nutrition and a healthy future.
Tags: Malnutrition Nepal, Child Health Nepal, Nutrition Crisis, Nepal Health News
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