To accomplish the “Health and Well-Being” Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which strive to enhance the health of all people, it is critical to address the nutritional disparities that women in India experience. Addressing these disparities is critical as the country works toward Viksit Bharat through sustainable and inclusive growth. To contribute to the SDGs, we investigated the causes of nutritional disparities among women in Indian states and UTs using data from the NFHS-5, which included 724,115 women aged 15–49. We evaluated socioeconomic and demographic factors such as age, education, religion, caste, and marital status in six Indian states: north-east, north, central, east, west, and south. Nutritional status was examined using noncommunicable disease markers such as anemia prevalence, BMI, WHR, blood sugar, and blood pressure. We employed descriptive statistics, cross-tabulation, and principal component analysis with a P-value of<.05. The study discovered considerable geographical disparities. For example, Ladakh had startlingly high percentages of severe (29.4%) and moderate (49.9%) anemia, but Lakshadweep and Manipur had far lower levels. In terms of BMI, Bihar had the most underweight women (25.4%), whereas Chandigarh and Punjab had the most overweight/obese women. Underweight prevalence was highest in the West (23.8%), whereas the South had the highest percentages of overweight/obese women (33.0%). These findings highlight the need for region-specific measures for combating malnutrition and other health concerns among women. In conclusion, addressing nutrition disparities in India requires context-specific planning, prioritization, and targeted interventions for the overall development of women.
Elsevier, Data-Driven Insights and Analytics for Measurable Sustainable Development Goals, 2025, Pages 37-58
