Improve malnutrition in children

This is an automatically translated article.

1. Current status of child malnutrition

Child malnutrition is always a concern and needs more attention. In the world, Vietnam is one of the 34 countries facing the most burden of malnutrition. Vietnam has 1.8 million malnourished children under the age of 5, at risk of long-term physical and brain damage. Over the past years, the proportion of under-nutrition children under 5 years of age in Vietnam has decreased rapidly and remained stable, thanks to the improvement of nutritional knowledge and practices and the improvement of micronutrient deficiencies. nutrition for children. However, this number is still high and there are regional differences. In 2016, the group of children under the age of 5 had the rate of malnutrition among underweight children at 13.8%, stunting at 24.3%, even in some provinces there was a high rate of children under the age of 5. stunting is very high (over 35%). Children living in poor families are three times more likely to be malnourished than children in better-off families. Especially in the Northern Midlands and Mountains, the Central Highlands, where there are many ethnic minorities, is the area with the highest proportion. Among the ethnic minorities, the Mong people have the highest rate of malnourished children (65%).
Micronutrient deficiencies are still a very common cause of child malnutrition. The prevalence of iron deficiency anemia in children under 5 years old is 28% and in mountainous areas where ethnic minorities are present it is 31%, while the rate of pregnant women with anemia is 32%. Only a quarter (25%) of children under six months of age are exclusively breastfed and only 59% benefit from a varied and complete weaning diet.
Child malnutrition, if it occurs from the first years of life, will greatly affect the physical, intellectual and motor development of children. Moreover, child malnutrition also weakens the child's immune system, making them more susceptible to respiratory infections (eg, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, otitis media). , ..) and gastrointestinal diseases (eg diarrhea, malabsorption syndrome, ... .
View now: Caring for and nurturing malnourished children

2. Principles of child malnutrition treatment

Child malnutrition is mainly caused by the lack of nutrients in the child's daily diet, although it has decreased compared to previous periods but is still high. To improve malnutrition in children, it is first necessary to master the principles of treating child malnutrition, especially during the first 1000 days from the time the mother begins pregnancy until the child turns 2. year old. Because this is the golden time to decide for the optimal development of children both physically and intellectually, if provided with adequate nutrition.
Some principles of treatment of child malnutrition, as follows:
For infants and young children should be exclusively breastfed for at least the first 6 months of life and continued until 2 years of age. Breast milk is the best food source for the comprehensive development of infants under 24 months of age, because breast milk contains colostrum, which helps increase resistance and helps children develop healthy. In addition, children who are breastfed are less likely to be malnourished, overweight and obese, and less likely to get infections. After 6 months, at this time, babies begin to enter the solid food phase. Children's daily menu must ensure to provide all four groups of essential nutrients: carbohydrates (rice, porridge, potatoes, corn, whole grains), protein (meat, fish, milk, eggs) , shrimp, crab, beans), fat (vegetable oils such as olive oil, sesame oil, animal fat, butter), fiber and vitamins and minerals (found in vegetables, tubers, fruits, milk and dairy products...). Only then will children be provided with enough energy needs. For older children, the digestive system has developed more firmly and is gradually getting used to absorbing different foods, so it is advisable to increase energy in the daily diet. Parents should give children many dishes in the same meal with a diverse composition of nutrients. It is recommended to divide into several meals to ensure a balance between the number of meals and the amount of food in each meal. Thus, children will not feel stressed and pressured when being forced to eat too much at the same time. The menu needs to be creative with mouth-watering dishes, change frequently to avoid boredom, eye-catching colors and diverse ingredients to stimulate appetite. Parents need to regularly monitor height and weight to properly assess and promptly detect abnormal signs. For children of primary and secondary school age, attention should be paid to school meals to ensure their energy and nutritional needs. Besides carbohydrates, fats, foods rich in protein and micronutrients should be focused. Specifically, to improve the quality of meals, it is necessary to provide enough protein components and increase vegetables and fiber. If changing the diet does not improve the child's malnutrition, parents should send the child to a nutritionist at a hospital or center with its own nutrition specialist. In order for children to eat better, increase nutrient absorption and increase resistance, parents can add micronutrients such as iron, zinc, calcium, vitamin A, vitamin C and B vitamins. through foods or supplements fortified with micronutrients, under the permission and guidance of a physician. If parents give their children supplements that are not prescribed correctly, they will lead to an excess of micronutrients that also affect the health of children. Encourage children to actively participate in physical activities, experience life through sports such as swimming, basketball, football, etc. Because the process of such physical activity is the body's time. Children's bodies expend energy properly, increase metabolism and will stimulate children to eat more deliciously. See now: Table of assessment and classification of malnutrition in children under 5 years old

3. Micronutrients needed for children's growth

In addition to supplementing with 3 main groups of nutrients for malnourished children, which are protein, carbohydrates, and fat, the addition of essential micronutrients is also extremely important for the healthy development of children. young. Micronutrients include vitamins (A, B, C, D, E...) and a group of mineral elements (calcium, phosphorus, zinc, iron, selenium, copper, iodine,...). These substances are found in foods of both animal and plant origin.
Vitamins and minerals are indispensable ingredients in meals to improve malnutrition in children. Although these substances do not produce energy, they play a very important role in metabolic processes, promote the body's energy release, help the body work actively, protect cells and organs. organs in the body.

3.1. Iron

Iron is an element that plays an important role in the transport and storage of oxygen and the metabolism of nutrients. Iron participates in making enzymes and making red blood cells. Iron deficiency is the most common cause of anemia. Children who do not have enough iron in their diets are prone to low weight, stunting, paleness, malnutrition, mental retardation, and respiratory and digestive tract infections and infections. skin infection. Malnourished children need to be supplemented with iron-rich foods such as chicken, beef, fish, liver, eggs, wood ear, sesame, green beans, centella asiatica, amaranth, etc. Combine more with foods, vegetables and fruits rich in vitamin C to enhance iron absorption better.

3.2. Calcium

Calcium is an important component in the structure of bones and teeth. Calcium participates in blood clotting and nutrient metabolism. Lack of calcium is one of the causes of delayed teething in children, making chewing and swallowing activities of children not good, leading to poor digestion and absorption. Calcium is found in many foods such as fish, eggs, milk and dairy products, dark green vegetables, ...

3.3. Iodine

Iodine is an indispensable material for the synthesis of thyroid hormones, which helps children's physical growth and brain development. In addition, iodine is also involved in the metabolism of nutrients to provide energy for the body's activities. Therefore, Iodine is a very important micronutrient that needs to be provided every day to protect the body and improve the health and intelligence of children. If Iodine deficiency from the mother's womb, when born, the child is prone to congenital hypothyroidism, older children may have goiter and mental retardation. Iodine-rich foods include sea salt, seafood, seaweed, ...

3.4. Zinc

Zinc is a micronutrient that participates in the composition of more than 300 different enzymes. These enzymes participate in chemical reactions, necessary for the metabolism of nutrients as well as the process of cell division in the body. Zinc deficiency makes children malnourished, digestive disorders, metabolic disorders, physical retardation, immunodeficiency, reduced resistance, so they are susceptible to infections, ... Meals Children need daily zinc supplements through foods such as beef, chicken, shrimp, crab, oysters, clams, whole grains, cheese...

3.5. Types of vitamins

Malnourished children are often deficient in vitamins such as A, D, C and B vitamins.
Vitamin A deficiency causes growth retardation, visual impairment, impaired immunity and susceptibility to diseases. about skin, ... Vitamin A is found in many foods such as papaya, pumpkin, carrots, tomatoes, broccoli, ... Vitamin D deficiency causes rickets and malnutrition. Milk and dairy products, fatty fish (mackerel, salmon, herring, ..), cod liver oil, eggs, avocado,... are rich in Vitamin D. Lack of B vitamins will make children tired. , anorexia... B vitamins such as folic acid are found in liver, eggs, peanuts, avocados; dark green vegetables such as asparagus, spinach, broccoli, ... Lack of vitamin C leads to malabsorption of calcium, iron and folic acid. Vitamin C is found in fruits such as oranges, strawberries, guava, kiwi, grapes, ... In the first years of life, adequate and quality nutrition will create the foundation for children to develop well. By school age, children will be better able to concentrate and absorb knowledge, and at the same time take the momentum for their physical and intellectual leaps to reach adolescence.
The improvement of malnutrition in children can take place for a long time, so it is recommended that parents be calm and persistent when supplementing with nutrients for their children. In addition to nutrition, parents can also add functional foods. However, parents need to pay attention to choose foods of natural origin that are easily absorbed, do not let their children use many types at the same time or continuously change functional foods.
Ideally, when a child is malnourished, parents should coordinate with a pediatrician to create a nutritious menu, enough zinc for the baby to help them develop comprehensively in each age.
For more nutritional knowledge and child care for each age, parents should regularly visit the website vimec.com and make an appointment with the leading doctors, pediatric and nutrition experts of the National General Hospital. Vinmec when needing advice on children's health.