Study Highlights Hidden Hunger in Urban Centers

A multicenter study conducted across ten Indian cities and published in PLOS ONE (May 2022) found alarmingly high rates of micronutrient deficiencies among urban schoolchildren aged 6–16 years. More than 50% of the children had calcium deficiency, nearly 50% were iron-deficient, and significant shares had deficiencies in vitamin D, B12, folate, selenium, and zinc.
This research suggests that even in urban areas—where food may seem abundant—children are not getting sufficient micronutrients.
Another study, published in BMC Nutrition (July 2024), examined pregnant women living in slums in Pune, India. Researchers reported that their diets were particularly poor in important micronutrients like iron, zinc, riboflavin, folate, and thiamine.
The study pointed out that low dietary diversity and high consumption of unhealthy foods among slum-dwelling women are contributing factors.
Public health experts have emphasized that this hidden hunger is a silent crisis—micronutrient deficiencies are not always obvious, but they can lead to long-term health problems like anemia, poor cognitive development, and weakened immunity.
Addressing it requires policies that go beyond merely increasing food quantity: solutions like food fortification, nutrition education, and improving access to a more diverse and nutrient-rich food supply in urban areas are being championed.