WHO growth charts may overdiagnose stunting in Indian children, according to a study of 1,557 children aged 0–5 years at a tertiary hospital in Western India. 

**Key Points**
- Using WHO references, 22.5% were classified as stunted (short or severely short), compared to 10.2% with 2019 Indian synthetic growth charts. 
- Severe short stature prevalence dropped from 7.8% (WHO) to 2.4% (Indian), while short stature decreased from 15% to 7.5%. 
- The mean height-for-age Z-score improved from -0.85 (WHO) to -0.37 (Indian). 

These findings suggest that WHO charts may lead to unnecessary investigations, highlighting the need for region-specific growth references to improve accuracy in assessing childhood stunting and guiding clinical decisions.

Source: Springer Nature | [Read Full Story](https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12098-025-05437-6)