Children who eat a lot may still be stunted because they lack these nutrients.

Despite being well cared for by their parents and having a balanced diet, many children still experience stunted growth due to unbalanced diets, micronutrient deficiencies, and frequent illnesses in their early years.

Children who eat a lot are still stunted due to micronutrient deficiencies. Photo: Gulf News .

According to Dr. Bui Thi Dung Nhi, Specialist II, Nutrition Clinic, Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control (HCDC), stunting is a condition where a child's height is lower than the standard for their age and gender.

Currently, the assessment of children's nutritional status is based on the World Health Organization (WHO) growth standards of 2006. Stunting is a chronic form of malnutrition, reflecting prolonged nutritional deficiencies or repeated infections over a long period.

According to data from the National Institute of Nutrition in 2020, the rate of stunting in Vietnamese children is approximately 20%, meaning that one in five children under the age of five is stunted.

According to Doctor Dung Nhi, many parents believe that simply feeding their children a lot is enough to promote height growth. However, a diet that is sufficient in quantity may not necessarily meet developmental needs if it lacks a balanced diet.

"A child's diet needs to ensure a balanced intake of all four food groups: carbohydrates, protein, fats, and fruits and vegetables," said the pediatrician.

According to pediatricians, many children are stunted due to a lack of protein, fat, micronutrients, or a prolonged period of poor nutrition. Additionally, children under 2 years old who do not receive adequate breastfeeding, or older children who do not receive appropriate supplemental milk, are also at risk of stunted growth.

Besides diet, frequent illnesses in the first two years of life are also a significant cause of stunted growth. Illnesses such as diarrhea, pneumonia, and recurrent measles can lead to poor appetite, vomiting, and reduced nutrient absorption.

A study in Brazil showed that if children experience an average of 7 episodes of diarrhea in their first two years of life, by the age of 7 their height may be about 3.6 cm shorter than children who did not experience the illness.

Additionally, premature babies, those born underweight (less than 2,500 grams), or those with intrauterine growth retardation are at a higher risk of stunting. This is often related to maternal malnutrition or illness during pregnancy, which slows fetal development in the womb.

Genetic factors also influence a child's height. If parents are short, their children are at a higher risk of being short. However, according to Dr. Dung Nhi, genetics only determines growth potential, while nutrition and living environment are the crucial factors that help children reach their maximum height potential.

Stunting is also common in children living in economically disadvantaged families, families with many children, or families lacking adequate healthcare and nutrition.

Source: https://znews.vn/tre-an-nhieu-van-thap-coi-vi-thieu-nhung-chat-nay-post1653594.html