Stunting in Children Under Two Years Could Have Permanent Effects on the Brain

Stunting in children not only affects physical growth but can also influence brain development. If it occurs at an early age, this condition may even result in effects that are difficult to reverse. Professor Ali Khomsan, Chair of Nutrition and Dietetics at IPB University, said that the impact of stunting can become permanent if a child experiences severe malnutrition before the age of two. ‘If that happens, a child who experiences malnutrition or stunting before the age of two, the brain condition could be irreversible, unable to recover,’ he told reporters at a press conference for the Nestlé Nutrition Mentoring Programme 2025 in South Jakarta on Wednesday 4 March 2026. Ali explained that brain development in children largely occurs in early life. In children under two, brain development can reach around 80 to 90 percent of its maximum capacity. Therefore, a child who experiences severe malnutrition during that period is at risk of permanent brain development impairments. ‘In the under-two period brain development is very rapid, perhaps reaching 80 to 90 percent,’ Ali said. This is why meeting nutritional needs in the early life is extremely important for children. When malnutrition occurs during this rapid brain-development phase, the brain’s ability to develop optimally can be disrupted. Consequently, children may face various developmental problems, including learning ability and comprehension. ‘If stunting occurs by age three or four, the brain can still develop well,’ he added.