BANGLADESH has made significant progress in reducing childhood stunting over the past decade, thanks to improvements in healthcare, nutrition and public health initiatives. However, a new and silent threat is emerging that could jeopardise these hard-won gains: climate change. Recent research has highlighted a troubling link between extreme heat and stunted growth in children, particularly during the first 1,000 days of life, a critical period for both physical and cognitive development. As global temperatures rise, so do the risks for children exposed to prolonged heat, especially in already climate-vulnerable countries like Bangladesh. Heat exposure can disrupt pregnancy outcomes, impair nutrient absorption and increase the disease burden, all of which contribute to stunting. With the frequency of extreme heat days projected to rise significantly by 2050, urgent action is needed. Addressing this growing crisis requires integrated efforts across health, nutrition, agriculture and social protection to safeguard child development in the face of a warming world.
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Climate and stunted growth
BANGLADESH has made significant strides in reducing child stunting, with rates falling from 42 per cent in 2012 to 28 per cent in 2019. However, this progress is beginning to plateau and a new, less visible threat looms: climate change. Is global warming threatening to reverse years of advancement? A recent study titled 鈥楨xtreme heat exposure in the first 1000 days: Implications for childhood stunting in Bangladesh鈥� has revealed a concerning connection between high temperatures during early life from pregnancy through the second year and stunted growth in children.
Extreme heat, defined as temperatures significantly higher than the 20-year historical norm, poses serious risks to child development. A mere 1 per cent rise in days of extreme heat increases the likelihood of stunting by 56 per cent. Alarmingly, heat exposure after birth appears to have a more pronounced impact (67 per cent) than exposure during pregnancy (28 per cent). This is the first study in Bangladesh to directly demonstrate that rising temperatures may be hindering years of improvements in child health and nutrition.
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Heat matters for child growth
HEATWAVES do more than cause discomfort they interfere with vital biological functions. Pregnant women exposed to high temperatures may experience reduced oxygen and nutrient flow to their babies, increasing the chances of low birth weight and premature delivery, both of which are linked to stunting. For infants and toddlers, coping with extreme heat raises energy demands and lowers appetite, making it harder to meet nutritional needs. Additionally, heat increases the prevalence of diarrhoea-related illnesses, which prevent children from absorbing nutrients effectively. As one of the most climate-vulnerable nations, Bangladesh is already experiencing the effects of rising temperatures and more frequent heatwaves. If current trends continue, the country could face a 33 per cent rise in extreme heat days by 2050, posing an even greater threat to child health.
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Global concern
BANGLADESH is not alone. In West Africa, a 2掳C increase in average temperature has been linked to a 7.4 per cent rise in stunting. Climate change is no longer solely an environmental issue; it鈥檚 a pressing public health crisis affecting children鈥檚 growth and future potential.
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Urgent actions needed
COMBATING stunting, which is linked to climate change, requires an urgent, multi-sectoral response. Health services must incorporate strategies to build resilience against heat, such as training healthcare workers to handle temperature-related risks for pregnant women and young children. Improving access to clean water and hydration resources in vulnerable areas is also essential.
Programs that support breastfeeding should be prioritized, since maternal heat stress and dehydration can limit breast milk production. Strengthening food security initiatives will be crucial to ensuring mothers and children have access to nutritious diets during periods of extreme heat. Investing in climate-resilient agriculture will help secure food supplies as temperatures continue to rise. Furthermore, social safety nets such as cash transfers and food aid can help families weather the economic fallout of climate-related disruptions. Building early warning systems for heatwaves will allow communities to prepare in advance and reduce harm.
Bangladesh has faced and overcome significant public health challenges in the past, but climate change presents a new and formidable obstacle. Without immediate action, millions of children risk impaired physical and cognitive development, along with long-term economic disadvantages.
There is no time to waste. Policymakers, governments and civil society must urgently integrate climate resilience into maternal and child health efforts to protect children from the harsh effects of a warming world. By acting now, we can preserve the progress Bangladesh has worked so hard to achieve and ensure a healthier future for its next generation.
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Raihan Riaz is a research associate (climate change and disaster risk reduction) at Network for Information, Response and Preparedness Activities on Disaster.