Rice price surge linked to child stunting and obesity
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- University of Bonn researchers analyzed data from the Indonesian Family Life Survey to assess the impact of 1997‑2000 rice price inflation on child growth and later obesity.
- Elza S. Elmira reported that the rice price shock increased child stunting by 3.5 percentage points and raised the risk of obesity in early adulthood.
- Matin Qaim explained that families cut nutrient‑rich foods while maintaining calories, creating hidden micronutrient deficiencies that slow height growth without reducing weight.
- Urban households experienced the strongest effects because they rely on market purchases, whereas rural families who grow rice were less exposed.
- Mothers with lower education saw their children more affected by the price shock than those with higher‑educated mothers.
- The study tracked the same individuals through 2014, finding that those aged 3‑5 during the crisis were shorter and more likely to be obese as adults.
Why it matters: Policymakers and aid agencies must target nutrition‑sensitive interventions during price shocks, because the study shows that calorie‑focused aid misses hidden micronutrient deficits that stunt height and later fuel obesity, disproportionately harming urban poor and children of less‑educated mothers and can increase long‑term health costs for the nation.
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