• A cross-sectional study was conducted on data available from Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys and Demographic and Health Surveys of 92 low and middle-income countries to find the prevalence of “Zero food children” among 6 to 23-month-olds.

• “Zero food children” are those who had not been fed any animal or formula milk, solid or semisolid food 24 hours before each survey reported by the mother or caretaker.

• From the sample of around 2.7 lakh children, the estimated percentage of “Zero food children” was 10.4%.

• The study found that such children were particularly high in West Central Africa and India which accounted for almost half of Zero food children.

• India has a “Zero food children” prevalence of 19.3%.

• This prevalence underscores the need for targeted interventions to improve infant and Young Child Feeding practices to ensure optimal nutrition during this critical period of development, where the issue is particularly urgent in West Central Africa and India.

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