Extended data

This study analyzed nationally representative Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) data from 62 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) collected between 2006 and 2024. The dataset included 541,707 children aged 0 to 59 months with complete anthropometric measurements across six global regions: South Asia & Southeast Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America & Caribbean, North Africa/West Asia/Europe, Central Asia, and Oceania. The primary objective was to estimate the global, regional, and national prevalence of coexisting forms of malnutrition (CFM) and its various subtypes—including concurrent underweight with stunting, wasting, or both, as well as stunting with overweight/obesity—among children under five years. Methodologically, the study employed cross-sectional analysis using WHO growth standards, with anthropometric indices (length/height-for-age, weight-for-age, weight-for-length/height) calculated via WHO AnthroCalⓇ software. Descriptive statistics generated weighted prevalence estimates, while multinomial logistic regression models identified associated factors at child, maternal, household, and environmental levels. The research utilized publicly available, de-identified DHS datasets that were originally collected with ethical approval from national institutional review boards and ICF International, with data access granted to researchers after project registration and requisition through the DHS Program.