Many Pakistani parents notice at some point that their child’s weight has stayed the same for weeks, or that the growth chart at the clinic shows a worrying plateau. It’s one of the most common reasons families visit a paediatrician, and the anxiety it brings is completely understandable.<\/p>\n
The scale of the problem in Pakistan is real. According to the Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (2017-18), over 23% of children under five years were underweight, and the Global Nutrition Report places Pakistan’s under-5 stunting rate at 37.6%, well above the regional average for Asia. These numbers reflect a mix of dietary gaps, feeding practices, and underlying health conditions that vary widely from Karachi’s urban households to rural Punjab.<\/p>\n
Most of the time, the reason a child isn’t gaining weight is simpler than parents fear. But knowing when a slow growth curve is normal and when it signals something that needs attention is the difference between unnecessary worry and catching a real problem early.<\/p>\n