How does a poor diet affect child development

Poor diets damaging children’s health worldwide, warns UNICEF

NEW YORK, 15 October 2019 – An alarmingly high number of children are suffering the consequences of poor diets and a food system that is failing them, UNICEF warned today in a new report on children, food and nutrition.

The State of the World’s Children 2019: Children, food and nutrition finds that at least 1 in 3 children under five – or over 200 million – is either undernourished or overweight. Almost 2 in 3 children between six months and two years of age are not fed food that supports their rapidly growing bodies and brains. This puts them at risk of poor brain development, weak learning, low immunity, increased infections and, in many cases, death.

“Despite all the technological, cultural and social advances of the last few decades, we have lost sight of this most basic fact: If children eat poorly, they live poorly,” said Henrietta Fore, UNICEF Executive Director. “Millions of children subsist on an unhealthy diet because they simply do not have a better choice. The way we understand and respond to malnutrition needs to change: It is not just about getting children enough to eat; it is above all about getting them the right food to eat. That is our common challenge today.”

The report provides the most comprehensive assessment yet of 21st century child malnutrition in all its forms. It describes a triple burden of malnutrition: Undernutrition, hidden hunger caused by a lack of essential nutrients, and overweight among children under the age of five, noting that around the world:

• 149 million children are stunted, or too short for their age,
• 50 million children are wasted, or too thin for their height,
• 340 million children – or 1 in 2 – suffer from deficiencies in essential vitamins and nutrients such as vitamin A and iron,
• 40 million children are overweight or obese.

The report warns that poor eating and feeding practices start from the earliest days of a child’s life. Though breastfeeding can save lives, for example, only 42 per cent of children under six months of age are exclusively breastfed and an increasing number of children are fed infant formula. Sales of milk-based formula grew by 72 per cent between 2008 and 2013 in upper middle-income countries such as Brazil, China and Turkey, largely due to inappropriate marketing and weak policies and programmes to protect, promote and support breastfeeding.

As children begin transitioning to soft or solid foods around the six-month mark, too many are introduced to the wrong kind of diet, according to the report. Worldwide, close to 45 per cent of children between six months and two years of age are not fed any fruits or vegetables. Nearly 60 per cent do not eat any eggs, dairy, fish or meat.

As children grow older, their exposure to unhealthy food becomes alarming, driven largely by inappropriate marketing and advertising, the abundance of ultra-processed foods in cities but also in remote areas, and increasing access to fast food and highly sweetened beverages.

For example, the report shows that 42 per cent of school-going adolescents in low- and middle-income countries consume carbonated sugary soft drinks at least once a day and 46 per cent eat fast food at least once a week. Those rates go up to 62 per cent and 49 per cent, respectively, for adolescents in high-income countries.

As a result, overweight and obesity levels in childhood and adolescence are increasing worldwide. From 2000 to 2016, the proportion of overweight children between 5 and 19 years of age doubled from 1 in 10 to almost 1 in 5. Ten times more girls and 12 times more boys in this age group suffer from obesity today than in 1975.

The greatest burden of malnutrition in all its forms is shouldered by children and adolescents from the poorest and most marginalized communities, the report notes. Only 1 in 5 children aged six months to two years from the poorest households eats a sufficiently diverse diet for healthy growth. Even in high-income countries such as the UK, the prevalence of overweight is more than twice as high in the poorest areas as in the richest areas.

The report also notes that climate-related disasters cause severe food crises. Drought, for example, is responsible for 80 per cent of damage and losses in agriculture, dramatically altering what food is available to children and families, as well as the quality and price of that food.

To address this growing malnutrition crisis in all its forms, UNICEF is issuing an urgent appeal to governments, the private sector, donors, parents, families and businesses to help children grow healthy by:

1. Empowering families, children and young people to demand nutritious food, including by improving nutrition education and using proven legislation – such as sugar taxes – to reduce demand for unhealthy foods.
2. Driving food suppliers to do the right thing for children, by incentivizing the provision of healthy, convenient and affordable foods.
3. Building healthy food environments for children and adolescents by using proven approaches, such as accurate and easy-to-understand labelling and stronger controls on the marketing of unhealthy foods.
4. Mobilizing supportive systems – health, water and sanitation, education and social protection – to scale up nutrition results for all children.
5. Collecting, analyzing and using good-quality data and evidence to guide action and track progress.

“We are losing ground in the fight for healthy diets,” said Fore. “This is not a battle we can win on our own. We need governments, the private sector and civil society to prioritize child nutrition and work together to address the causes of unhealthy eating in all its forms.”

######

For photos, broll, the full report, factsheet, graphs and datasets, click here. After 00.01 GMT 15 October, you can browse the special interactive feature on our website or download the report here. Explore the data here.

About UNICEF
UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone. For more information about UNICEF and its work for children, visit www.unicef.org.

Follow UNICEF on Twitter and Facebook

For more information, please contact:
Sabrina Sidhu, UNICEF New York, +1 917 4761537, ssidhu@unicef. org

Nutrition – school-age to adolescence

All children and adolescents need healthy snacks and meals to support their growth and development. A nutrient-rich diet plays an important role in your child’s mental and physical development.

Unfortunately, nutritional deficiencies can occur in children when their diets include an excess of foods that are high in fat, sugar and salt. These are often in the form of treats (chips, chocolates, lollies, soft drink) or in food that has been processed (such as take-away food). Children who don’t eat a varied diet that includes enough fresh and whole foods risk long-term health consequences.

A healthy diet with the right nutrition also plays a vital role in maintaining a healthy weight in children and adolescents. Eating patterns established in childhood continue into adulthood, so the more healthy choices children are offered, the better.

Signs and symptoms of a poor diet

Symptoms of poor diet can include:

being underweight, overweight or obese
constipation or changes in bowel habits
being pale or lethargic
tooth decay
poor physical growth.

In some children, poor diet may be associated with:

behavioural problems
sleep issues
problems with emotional and psychological development
poor concentration or difficulties at school.

What causes nutrient deficiency?

Nutrient deficiencies may occur in children who do not eat a balanced diet, which often results in inadequate intake of fibre, vitamins and minerals. Some common problems that affect a healthy diet in children and adolescents include:

Not enough fruits and vegetables

Fibre keeps the digestive and immune systems healthy. A lack of whole fruits and vegetables and whole grains in the diet can mean children and adolescents don’t get enough fibre. Low-fibre diets can cause constipation, and put children at greater risk of developing bowel cancers and heart disease later in life. Having adequate amounts of fibre in the diet can be protective against excess weight gain and type 2 diabetes.

Fruits and vegetables are also a good source of Vitamin C, which is needed by the body to assist with iron absorption, fighting infection and wound healing.

Choosing a variety of different coloured whole fruits and vegetables (yellow, red and green) and including these as part of your child’s normal diet can help prevent problems associated with nutrient deficiencies.

Aim for 5 serves of grains (e.g. brown bread, pasta and rice), 5 serves of vegetables and 2 serves of fruit each day. Read more on number of serves here.
Fresh fruit and vegetables are best, but canned (in natural juice, drained) or frozen varieties are also good options and generally contain the same amount of nutrients as fresh. Dried fruit is nutritious, but has a high amount of natural sugar so should be eaten less frequently.

Allergies and intolerances

Children or adolescents who have been diagnosed with food allergy or intolerances should have their diet modified or supervised by a dietitian to ensure they get the nutrients required for healthy growth and development.

Allergies to particular foods or food intolerances (e.g. lactose or gluten) can result in a limited diet and nutrient deficiencies if changes are not managed safely.

Lactose intolerance can lead to a decreased calcium intake – make sure your child has an alternative (e.g. lactose-free cow’s milk or yoghurt or calcium-fortified dairy alternatives).
Coeliac disease can lead to inadequate intake of fibre and increases the risk of iron deficiency due to gut inflammation – make sure your child has adequate iron-rich foods in their diet, such as red meat and leafy green vegetables.
Restriction of FODMAP containing foods can result in inadequate consumption of fibre and other important nutrients.

Independent food choices and restricted diets

As children get older and become more independent they may decide to follow particular diets or restrict certain food groups. There are many diets that adolescents may find appealing, and it is common for older children to experiment with ‘fad’ diets. Unnecessarily restricting particular food groups may result in nutrient deficiencies which can be detrimental to health as your child may be missing vital nutrients for growth and development (e.g. going gluten-free when it’s not needed, low-carb diets).

Adolescents who restrict their intake of animal products (meat and dairy) are particularly at risk of iron and calcium deficiency, especially if choosing to eat a vegetarian or vegan diet. Iron is needed for transporting oxygen to the body, and lack of iron often presents as a lack of energy. Including foods that contain iron in the diet to prevent iron deficiency is important for both physical health and brain development.

Calcium is required for healthy bone growth, particularly during adolescent growth spurts. Inadequate intake of calcium in adolescence can lead to osteoporosis or weak bones in adulthood.

If your child has decided to restrict certain food groups, or has decided to follow a special diet, speak to a GP and dietitian about implementing a balanced diet that meets nutritional needs.
Following a diet that isn’t planned or supervised by a health professional could lead to poor health.

Weight

Children and adolescents who are underweight or overweight can be nutritionally deficient as their diet usually lacks healthy nutrient-containing foods.

While there are many factors that contribute to a child’s weight (e.g. genetics) it is heavily influenced by their food choices. Common dietary contributors to excess weight gain include junk foods, sugary drinks, large portions and processed takeaway foods. Overweight children do not naturally ‘slim down’ or lose weight as they get older: they require healthy eating habits in conjunction with exercise to reach a healthy weight.

Poor food choices

Treats and processed foods (chips, chocolates, lollies, cakes, biscuits and take-away food) should be limited to special occasions and be consumed in moderation in accordance with the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating.

Sugary drinks (soft drinks, juice, flavoured waters, cordials and sports drinks or energy drinks) are not required, even following sport, and should be avoided. Water is the healthiest choice and should be the main drink for all children over 12 months.

Treats, processed foods and sugary drinks are often filled with sugar or artificial sweeteners, fat or salt and add no nutrition or benefit to a child’s diet. Too many serves of these foods and drinks are linked to poor health, weight gain and tooth decay.

Reduce the number of treats offered to children and teenagers and provide healthy alternatives for snacks.
Avoid using treats as rewards – using treats for behavioural or emotional reasons does not support the development of healthy eating habits.

Care at home

Generally, most vitamin deficiencies can be managed at home with minor changes to diet. Making healthy food choices and knowing how many serves your child needs for their age can be helpful. See more at the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating.

Involve your child in planning meals, food purchasing and preparation – these improve your child’s understanding of healthy eating and their food choices.
Reduce the number of treats available and provide healthy alternatives for snacking.
Avoid buying or offering sugary drinks – water is the best drink for children.
Include a variety of fruits and vegetables in your child’s diet.
If your child has special dietary requirements or needs to avoid particular food groups, ensure they eat appropriate foods to replace the nutrients they miss out on.

Reading labels

Reading food labels is the best way to know how healthy a product is. Always look for the fat and sugar values as these will guide you in making good choices.

There are many names for fat (e.g. oils, shortening, milk solids, monoglycerides) and sugar (e. g. sucrose, glucose, dextrose, syrups, malt).
Ingredients are listed in descending order (i.e. a product contains the most of the first ingredient and the least of the last ingredient).
Use the ‘Per 100g’ values listed in the nutrition information panel to compare products.
The fewer ingredients listed, the better.

There are resources and apps that can help understand labelling. Try Eat for Health or the FoodSwitch app.

When to see a doctor

You should take your child to see your GP if you are unsure about your child’s general health, weight or diet. Your GP will be able to refer you to a dietitian for additional support to ensure your child has a balanced diet.

You should also see your GP if your child or adolescent:

is avoiding food groups or restricting their diet
has allergies or food intolerances
has an unbalanced diet and you are concerned about nutritional deficiencies
is underweight or overweight.

Key points to remember

A nutrient-rich diet is important for healthy growth and development.
Generally, most vitamin deficiencies can be managed at home with minor changes to diet.
You should take your child to see your GP if you are unsure about their weight or diet or if you are concerned they may have an allergy to particular foods.

For more information

Visit The Royal Children’s Hospital Food and Nutrition Services website
The Royal Children’s Hospital’s Weight Management Service
The RCH National Child Health Poll: Kids and food
Your GP or a dietitian
Raising Children Network Healthy eating habits for kids, Healthy eating habits for teenagers and Cooking with kids and teenagers.
Australian Guide to Healthy Eating.

Impact of malnutrition on pregnancy, child and mother

Obviously The diet a woman follows during pregnancy directly affects the fetus and herself. Poor nutrition is considered to be the result of both reduced intake and overconsumption. Both are the result of an imbalance between the needs of the body and the intake of essential nutrients.

That's why it's so important for a pregnant woman to know about it. The importance of a balanced, complete and sufficient diet. In this sense, always consult a specialist and do not impose diets on your own. We will tell you about some of the consequences and effects of malnutrition during pregnancy on you and your baby.

Index

1 What do we call malnutrition?
2 Effects of malnutrition on the fetus
3 Consequences of malnutrition in pregnant women

What do we call malnutrition?

How it was promoted malnutrition is considered an imbalance, excessive or default between nutrient intake and the needs of the fetus and mother. In both cases, there is a danger to the child and mother. The nutritional status of the mother also needs to be considered when she becomes pregnant.

El Energy consumption for pregnancy is estimated at 76.380 kcal. , which in well-nourished women corresponds to 4.780 fetal tissues, 35.800 body fat and 35.800 new tissue maintenance needs. Dietitian Carolina Perez advises to provide this amount of additional and needed energy from the second trimester with an additional intake of XNUMX-XNUMX kcal / day.

the most recommended foods are proteins, like fish, legumes, eggs and lean meats; dairy products, especially in late pregnancy; then is rich in iron , and broad-leaf vegetables, brewer's yeast, nuts and soy are rich in folic acid. Steak tartare, sushi, raw cold cuts, honey, unpasteurized dairy products, improperly washed vegetables and fruits, and large fish that accumulate heavy metals are not recommended.

The effect of poor nutrition on the fetus

La poor maternal nutrition has many negative consequences for the health of the fetus. Deficiencies in essential nutrients such as calcium, iron, folic acid, or zinc can cause various problems such as miscarriage or premature birth. Other negative consequences of poor nutrition include:

Low fetal weight and increased tendency to become obese in childhood . Babies born with low birth weight, because they grew up in an environment with severe dietary restrictions, develop mechanisms to conserve nutrients.
Malformations fetus. Under these conditions, the fetus may undergo organic and functional changes in order to survive. With these devices, he tries to keep the growth and development of the main organs, especially the brain, at the expense of other organs.
In addition to others such as: developmental defects in the brain nervous system, increased risk of future cardiovascular disease and behavioral problems such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

To explain the origin of fetal macrosomia or fetuses large for gestational age, The theory of complex changes in the intrauterine environment is gaining strength, so that glucose, amino acids and lipids play an important role in the pathophysiology of fetal development.

Consequences of malnutrition in pregnant women

Poor nutrition during pregnancy also has negative consequences for the mother. If there is an excess of carbohydrates, the remainder will be converted by the body into fats deposition in certain areas of the body. If there is a deficiency, the body will get them from the proteins of the body structures, from which the muscles will suffer.

excess protein can be converted to ammonia, which is urea , being able to affect the kidneys. The lack of proteins will lead to the fact that when they wear out there will be no replacement, which will cause a feeling of fatigue and anemia. In addition, proteins are one of the main elements in the diagnosis of preeclampsia, a serious pathology for both mother and child.

Excess fat is stored as adipose tissue and increases cholesterol levels. But its deficiency and complete absence are also fatal, since fats perform a vital intermediary function in the body: they protect organs, carry fat-soluble vitamins, form cell membranes, etc.

The content of the article complies with our principles of editorial ethics. To report a bug, click here.

Healthy nutrition for pregnant and lactating women

Healthy nutrition is the most important component of the quality of life. It is understood as an integral indicator of the mental, physical and social functioning of a person. Proper nutrition is the key to good health, healthy appearance and strong immunity.

A woman's nutrition during pregnancy is designed to ensure the correct course, a favorable outcome of pregnancy and maintain the optimal health of the woman, thereby contributing to the normal formation, growth and development of the fetus. Improper nutrition during pregnancy, along with other reasons, can lead to serious consequences - miscarriage, premature birth, the birth of a child with various intrauterine defects, lag in physical and neuropsychic development. Deficiency of individual macro- and micronutrients in the prenatal period affects not only the formation of the fetus, but also adversely affects the child's future health and is a risk factor for the development of a number of diseases in adulthood.

There are significant systemic disorders in the nutrition of pregnant and lactating women in the form of an inadequate diet, non-compliance with the requirements for the qualitative and quantitative composition of diets and food preparation technology.

A woman's nutrition during pregnancy should be complete and varied, fully meeting the physiological needs for nutrients and energy of both the woman herself and the growing fetus, taking into account the duration of pregnancy. It is recommended to preserve food stereotypes formed in women before pregnancy (if the woman's nutrition was adequate enough). All this will contribute to ensuring a comfortable state of health, good mood and high activity of a pregnant woman.

During the period of breastfeeding, a woman's nutrition must be organized taking into account maintaining her health, ensuring sufficient and prolonged lactation with the optimal composition of breast milk. The nutrition of a nursing mother should satisfy her physiological needs for nutrients and energy, as well as the age-related needs of the child in the first months of life.

Law one:

correspondence of the energy value (calorie content) of the diet to the energy consumption of a person. Three classes of basic nutrients - proteins, fats and carbohydrates of food are sources of energy. In a balanced diet, proteins should be 10-15% in calories, fats - no more than 30%, carbohydrates 50-55%.

The energy requirements of pregnant and lactating women include additional requirements related to growth, tissue formation, and milk secretion.

Second Law

Correspondence of the chemical composition of a person's diet to his physiological needs for nutrients.

Nutrients are chemicals, the constituents of food, that the body uses to build, renew, and repair its organs and tissues, and to obtain energy from them to do work. All nutrients make up 6 main groups - carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals and water.

Recommended average daily food allowance for pregnant women (gross grams):