Fifteen percent of rural children and 10% of urban children in the Dominican Republic are said to suffer from chronic malnutrition, according to doctors taking part in a conference organized by the Cuesta Group’s corporate social responsibility department. This high rate produces a 19% slowdown in children’s growth. Dr. Elbi Morla from the Robert Reid Cabral Children’s Hospital said that on the other hand between 20% and 30% of Dominican children are obese and called for more public education on nutrition.