Exclusive breastfeeding of infants in the first six months has improved across India, increasing from 55% in 2015-16 to 64% in 2019-21; however, anemia among children and women is still a concern as over half of them have been found to be anemic in all 14 states and union territories surveyed in Phase-2 of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS).

According to the survey, the proportion of children below five years of age with anemia increased from 58.6% in the last survey to 67.1% now. The survey thus shows that two out of every three children below five in India are anemic. The number of obese children and adults has also increased in the country over the last five years. The percentage of anemic women has increased from 53.1% to 57% and that of teenage girls (15-19 years of age) with anemia has risen to 59.1% from 54.1%. The percentage of anemic men has also increased to 25% from 22.7%... (ET Healthworld – TNN, November 25, 2021)