MALNUTRITION

Understanding Childhood Malnutrition: Easy Steps You Can Take to Protect Your Child

Understanding Childhood Malnutrition: Easy Steps You Can Take to Protect Your Child

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Childhood malnutrition can affect any child. Here's what you can do to help.

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Duration
MAY 22, 2023   2 MINUTE READ
Description

Childhood malnutrition — both undernutrition and overnutrition — can affect any child, compromising physical growth, cognitive development and immune health. Addressing the problem requires our best efforts.

What You Can Do to Help

You can't control every risk factor for malnutrition, but you can take steps to help prevent the effects of childhood malnutrition and ensure your child is getting the nutrients they need to thrive.

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Set a Good Example

Research reveals that parents who eat nutritious foods in front of their children can positively influence the nutritional quality of their child's meals. So, in addition to offering your kid as many nutritious foods as possible, set a good example by demonstrating healthy eating behaviors and patterns. While you're at it, why not cook together? One study links children who know how to cook with better nutritional outcomes.

Prioritize Family Mealtime

A growing body of evidence shows a wide range of benefits associated with family meals, ranging from physical to social-emotional to academic. In a meta-analysis of 17 studies, researchers found that children and adolescents who share family meals three or more times per week were more likely to be in a normal weight range and eat healthier foods compared to those who share fewer than three family meals together.

Screen for Nutritional Deficiencies

The best defense against the effects of childhood malnutrition is early identification. Your healthcare provider can assess your child's nutrition status through a number of screening measures. One screening tool, the mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) z-score tape, allows you to screen your child at home. This inexpensive, paper-based device wraps around your child's upper arm like a measuring tape to quickly identify malnutrition risk. From there, you can work with your child's pediatrician to understand the circumstances behind an at-risk reading and design a path to care.

Seek Support

When it comes to protecting your child from the effects of childhood malnutrition, nutritious, balanced meals should be the top priority. However, for some children, this may not be enough. If you suspect your child isn't getting sufficient nutrients, ask your pediatrician about options that provide the vitamins, minerals and protein your child needs to thrive.

ow to Teach Kids About Nutrition

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As a parent, you want your children to have the healthiest food possible, but good nutrition for kids goes beyond what's being served at the kitchen table today. Even though your kids might need your help now, they'll be making their own decisions about food before you know it.

Jennifer Williams, MPH, pediatric nutrition research scientist with Abbott, shares how you can give them some direction for solid nutrition education. 

Nutrition and Child Development | Abbott Nutrition

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Children come in all shapes and sizes. But if you're noticing that your child is shorter or smaller than their friends at school, it's natural to wonder: Is my child growing normally?

And it's a question worth asking. In 2017, the World Bank found that, globally, 22 percent of children younger than five years old are shorter than is recommended for their age. Nutrition and child development go hand in hand, so if you notice your child is falling behind, their diet might be part of the reason. 

NUTRITION IS THE FOUNDATION FOR LIVING YOUR BEST LIFE. THAT’S WHY WE WORK HARD TO ADVANCE AND SHARE THE LATEST SCIENCE AND CREATE BETTER WAYS TO NOURISH YOUR BODY AT EVERY STAGE OF LIFE.

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