The Cuddles Foundation’s FoodHeals report reveals -Over half of India’s childhood cancer patients require nutritional support in their cancer battle,

To mark Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, the Cuddles Foundation released its report, "FoodHeals: Exploring Nutritional Aspects of Childhood Cancer in India." The report highlights the crucial role of nutrition in pediatric cancer care, revealing that malnutrition significantly impacts treatment effectiveness and quality of life for children with cancer.

Founded in 2013, Cuddles Foundation supports underprivileged children with cancer by providing nutritional aid and trained pediatric oncology nutritionists across 40 public hospitals in 14 states. The report notes that 57% to 61% of children are undernourished at diagnosis, and 65% consume less than half of the required daily calories and protein, worsening treatment outcomes.

The report also identifies a critical shortage of specialized nutritionists, with ratios of 1:54 in accredited hospitals and 1:407 in non-accredited ones. It calls for increased investment in nutrition services and specialized training. Cuddles has been honored with several awards, including the National Award for Child Welfare.