Malnutrition is one of the most important public health problems. Acc. to NFHS, 2019-2021 the statistics of malnutrition are 7.7% of children are severely wasted, 19.3% are wasted and 35.5% are stunted and on the other hand, 3.4% of children are overweight. Undernutrition (Karshya) and overnutrition both are two manifestations of malnutrition. A balanced diet with the proper dietetic rules can help combat malnutrition in children. In many countries including India, people are suffering from health problems because of poor nutrition and/or faulty eating habits. Ayurveda classic explains nutritional issues. Each disease occurs due to faulty Ahara and Vihara. To get optimal benefits from consumed food Ahara vidhi is important in the same way. The purpose of the literature review is to highlight the Ayurvedic perspective of causing malnutrition and the role of food and nutrition in the management of malnutrition among children.

Background: Malnutrition is one of the most important public health problems. According to National Family Health Survey (NFHS) 2019-2021, the statistics of malnutrition are 7.7% of children are severely wasted, 19.3% are wasted and 35.5% are stunted and on the other hand, 3.4% of children are overweight. Malnutrition is a state of improper nutrition balance in the body inadequate intake of food or a specific nutrient leads to undernutrition, while overnutrition means that a person eats more food than they need. Undernutrition and overnutrition both are two manifestations of malnutrition. A balanced diet with the proper dietetic rules can help combat malnutrition in children. In many countries including India, people are suffering from health problems because of poor nutrition and/or faulty eating habits. Ayurveda classic haphazardly explains nutritional issues. Each disease occurs due to faulty Ahara and Vihara. To get optimal benefits from consumed food Ahara vidhi is important in the same way. To eradicate malnutrition, it is important to follow daily and seasonal regimens and a proper diet. In Ayurveda, Karshya is a disease as well as its cause, prodromal symptoms, features of different diseases, and bad prognostic signs. Karshya is also physiological in Vataja prakriti individuals. The purpose of the literature review is to highlight the ayurvedic perspective of causing malnutrition and the role of food and nutrition in the management of malnutrition among children.

Material and Method: This review of literature has been taken from the text book, Dietetics, B.Shrilaxmi and Ayurvedic text, and research journals. Ayurvedic texts were scrutinized for the study of the undernutrition, and its factors causes undernutrition, have been taken from recent research.

Result: Malnutrition is a major public-health problem for the developing country. Globally, there are about 60 million children suffering from moderate acute and 13 million suffering from severe acute malnutrition. Both overnutrition and undernutrition are the form of malnutrition. Overnutrition occurs due to excess intake of food. Inadequate diet, poor nutrition, malabsorption, prolonged disease, hygiene and sanitation are the major cause of undernutrition among children which leads to under-nutrition. Protein-energy Malnutrition is a condition which occurs due to lack of protein and energy.

According to Ayurveda, consuming Ruksh ahara (dry food) is one of the factors responsible for malnutrition. According to Charak samhita, Karshya means a person with having lean and thin body personality but doesn't have any more complaints. Acharya Charak has explained nutritional issues as well as clinical symptoms & causing factors, i.e., Ahara (dietary), Viharaja (behavioral), and Manshika (psychological). Ahara, vihara, and manshik factor aggregate Vayu, alter Agni, produces insufficient Rasa dhatu along with other Dhatus,