*2.4.3 Nutrition*

Retardation of growth occurs, if malnutrition is severe, and in such cases there is always the additional possibility of chronic diseases such as anemia, congenital heart diseases etc. Improved nutrition and freedom from chronic disease are factors which have contributed to taller stature and earlier puberty of European and American prevalent, while poor linear growth, and delay adolescence are common among the children in the countries where malnutrition is prevalent. Chronic malnutrition through the childhood and early adult years, of prospective mothers, places their infants in jeopardy physically and intellectually [35].
