Interpret the public health implication: if 23% of under‑five children in a country are stunted, what multi‑sector consequences should policymakers anticipate and plan for over the next 20 years?

• A. No specific planning is required because stunting is reversible at any age and will not affect long‑term national indicators.
• B. Expect lower workforce productivity, increased health care needs for chronic conditions, reduced educational attainment, and intergenerational cycles of poverty; plan for investments in early childhood nutrition, education, and social protection to mitigate these effects.
• C. Plan for a rapid demographic dividend that solves economic issues automatically without targeted investments because stunting increases fertility rates markedly and boosts the labor pool.
• D. Anticipate immediate decreases in elderly care costs because stunted children require less food as adults, and therefore reduce future social spending across all sectors.

Answer: (B)