Tobacco Smoking a Major Factor Behind Child Stunting: WHO

New Delhi- Tobacco use is not only linked to cancers and tuberculosis but is also a major factor contributing to child stunting, a condition affecting nearly 150 million children worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

In 2022, around 148 million children were stunted, with 52 per cent in Asia and 43 per cent in Africa. Stunting is associated with higher risks of illness and death in children.

In its latest Tobacco Knowledge Summary, the WHO stressed the harmful impact of tobacco use on child growth and urged governments to strengthen tobacco control policies to safeguard children’s health, particularly by reducing exposure during pregnancy.

“Stunting robs children of their right to grow, learn, and thrive,” said Dr Etienne Krug, Director of WHO’s Department of Health Determinants, Promotion and Prevention. “Children with parents who smoke face a higher risk of stunting.”

Stunting is defined as impaired growth and development caused by poor nutrition, infections, and lack of stimulation. Children are considered stunted if their height-for-age is more than two standard deviations below the WHO Child Growth Standards median.

The report highlighted that parental smoking heightens the risk of stunting, with maternal smoking during pregnancy strongly linked to preterm birth, low birth weight, and restricted fetal growth. The more a mother smokes, the greater the harm, often extending beyond infancy. On the positive side, quitting smoking during pregnancy improves child growth outcomes.

WHO noted that tobacco smoke contains thousands of toxic chemicals harmful to fetal and child development. Prenatal exposure leads to growth restriction, congenital anomalies, and chronic diseases, while second-hand smoke after birth worsens infections and development problems, further raising stunting risks.

Calling for full implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and its MPOWER strategies, the organisation urged countries to enforce smoke-free environments, support cessation services—especially for expectant mothers—and protect children and pregnant women from second-hand smoke.

With inputs from IANS