Stunted childhood growth in developing countries results in educational deficits and substantial economic losses.

Using published data on early-childhood growth and the financial benefits of education for 137 developing nations, Günther Fink at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston, Massachusetts, and his colleagues calculated the effects of growth delays on children born in 2010. About one-third of the 122.9 million children experienced stunted growth, resulting in the overall projected loss of half a year of educational attainment per child. Globally, early growth delays were projected to cost a total of US$176.8 billion in lost income each year.

If growth delays were eliminated worldwide, the authors estimated, India would benefit the most, with a projected economic gain of $37.9 billion per year.

Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 104, 104–112 (2016)