United Nations, July 31 (RHC)-- The United Nations says nearly seven million more children will suffer stunting as a result of the coronavirus pandemic affecting food supplies.

Writing in The Lancet, a team of experts modelled the impact on 118 poor and middle-income countries. They found the prevalence of moderate or severe wasting among children under five would increase by 14.3 percent, which works out to an extra 6.7 million cases.

"The profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on early life nutrition could have intergenerational consequences for child growth and development, and life-long impacts on education, chronic disease risks ..." the researchers wrote.

Wasting occurs when the body is so malnourished that muscles and fat begin to disappear.