Underweight malnutrition in children under 3 years old

This is an automatically translated article.

Many young fathers and mothers are "stressed" because they do not understand why their children are malnourished while still taking good care of their children and eating well. So what is the cause of underweight malnutrition in children under 3 years old?
The content is professionally consulted by Dr. Dr. Nguyen Nam Phong - Pediatrician - Vinmec International General Hospital

1. Learn what is malnutrition?

Malnutrition is a condition in which the body lacks protein, energy and micronutrients or consumes more than necessary, leading to a long-term nutritional deficiency affecting the comprehensive development of children. There are different ways of classifying malnutrition.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), underweight malnutrition is diagnosed when a child's weight is 80% or less below the standard weight and is divided into three degrees:
Grade 1: Weight Children only reach less than 80% to 70% of the standard weight for their age. Grade 2: The child's weight is less than 70% to 60% of the standard weight for his age. Grade 3: The child's weight is only 60% or less of the standard weight for his age. In addition to weight, children also show signs of fussiness, anorexia, thinness, poor sleep, less flexibility, irritability, no height development,...

2. Common causes of malnutrition in children

Here are some common causes, such as:
Improper feeding of baby solids Lack of micronutrients Unbalanced diet between groups of substances Children often get sick To prevent and improve the condition Underweight malnutrition in children parents need:
Exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life and for at least two years. Only consider formula feeding when there is not enough breast milk. Feed your baby properly Feed your baby a variety of foods, change foods often, stimulate appetite Increase regular physical activities to stimulate appetite Put your baby to bed early, get enough sleep sleep. Older children guide children to age-appropriate physical activities such as swimming, cycling, barbells, basketball, ... to help children increase optimal height Thoroughly treat diseases in the digestive tract Chemical as well as systemic diseases Need to be consulted, examined by psychologists, psychiatrists for advice and treatment of eating disorders and other mental disorders that affect habits. children's eating habits Add snacks in between meals Do not abuse antibiotics in the treatment of diseases Regularly monitor children's growth with charts Guide to choosing food economically and full.

Doctor Nguyen Nam Phong said: In addition to the above measures, parents can supplement micronutrients to contribute to improving underweight malnutrition in children. Among the micronutrients, zinc has been shown to play an especially important role in the development of children in the first years of life. Zinc helps maintain and protect taste and smell cells. Zinc helps children eat better, increases absorption, increases protein synthesis and cell division.
Zinc deficiency causes anorexia, growth retardation, underweight malnutrition in children. In addition to zinc, parents also need to supplement their children with other important vitamins and minerals such as lysine, chromium, B vitamins,... errands.
Doctor Nguyen Nam Phong also shared: Parents should note: should choose quality products with clear origin, should not abuse nor let children use in a rush, but should words for children to adapt. Supplementing with alternative products should be consulted by a doctor/nutritionist.
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.

Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.