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Poor nutrition, or, more appropriately, malnutrition in children, is a long-faced menace in most developing countries of the world, including India. Poor nutrition means that the food a child consumes is inadequate in nutrients which will enable them to lead a healthy and productive life. Wasting (weak body) and stunting (short height compared to age) are the two indicators used for measuring the effect of inadequate nutrition in children.
The 2024 Global Hunger Index (GHI) has ranked India at 27.3, which is a better position as compared to the 29.3 GHI score of the year 2016. A higher rank in the GHI index means poorer performance of a country in terms of malnutrition and stunting in children. Here, India secures 105th rank out of 127 countries in the world.
After analyzing the 2024 GHI report, it is noteworthy that India’s ranking has shown only a marginal improvement. Issues such as wasting, stunting, hunger, and undernutrition need to be addressed by all relevant agencies across the nation. Only through such collective efforts can the menace of malnutrition in children be effectively tackled.
Causes Of Poor Nutrition In Children
Discuss the various causes of poor nutrition in children such as
Poverty And Food Insecurity:
India is the world’s second most populous country. Moreover, the ever-inflating rates of various food commodities, exacerbate the problem of food insecurity in India. A considerable number of Indian families are living below the poverty line. In lack of food security, such parents are forced to feed their children meals that are not nutritionally adequate for their children.
Lack Of Access To Nutritious Food:
The fondness children have for junk food and the busy lifestyle of both parents are some factors contributing to the lack of access to nutritious food. Nutritious food includes not only fresh, home-cooked meals but also making these meals nutritionally balanced, which requires proper knowledge of nutrition. A balanced diet is essential, incorporating an appropriate amount of dietary fiber (such as oats and whole grains), healthy fats (like chia seeds, walnuts, olive oil), protein-rich foods (such as pulses and lentils), and vitamins (from fruits and vegetables)
Limited Knowledge Of Nutrition:
Balancing your child’s plate with healthy fats, fiber, protein, vitamins, and minerals is essential in shaping their future health. This requires up-to-date knowledge of nutrition and a creative approach to combining various nutritious foods into a single, complete meal that your child will enjoy. Parents can also seek help from a nutritionist for a blueprint of a balanced diet and easy preparation techniques.
Cultural And Religious Practices:
The knowledge that the parents have regarding feeding the child, their health, and any risk of malnutrition is all culture-bound. Thus, it is important to first understand the cultural patterns of society before making a roadmap for further policy-making regarding child malnutrition in that area. The same approach must be of a nutritionist also, attending to a malnourished child. Many cultural taboos render a child malnourished in their crucial years of development. Many mothers exclusively breastfeed their children for over a year, rendering them devoid of solid foods and their nutrients, whereas in some cultures solids are introduced very early, so the risk of infections is maintained. In some cases, cultural taboos make a mother suffer from nutritional deficiencies during her pregnancy, leaving the unborn devoid of essential vitamins and minerals required for proper growth and development.
Underlying Health Conditions:
Severe forms of malnutrition can result, if the newborn child falls victim to certain health problems like – low birth weight, diarrhea, not deworming of a child, very few or no antenatal clinic attendance by the expectant mother, etc. These health conditions of both the mother and the child need to be addressed as soon as possible to negate the effect of their future consequences i.e. malnutrition in children.
Impact Of Poor Nutrition On Children
The Various Signs of nutritional deficiencies in a child are as follows:
Lack Of Concentration: A poor diet results in a lack of essential vitamins and nutrients required for a child’s memory power and concentration.
Low Memory Of The Brain: The brain needs energy and nutrients to process, refine, and grasp any information, which becomes harder in case of malnourishment.
Stunting: A proper diet rich in protein and calcium is required for proper height as per the age of the child. In the absence of a balanced meal, a child remains stunted. This is a clear sign of poor diet in the body.
Wasting: A diet lacking major macro (proteins and fats) and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) results in wasting near the shoulders and accumulation of fluid in the stomach. This gives the child a lean figure with a bulging belly. This is another sign of poor diet in the body.
Weak Immune System: A diet lacking essential protein, fats, fiber, vitamins, and minerals but rich in trans fats, refined flour, preservatives, etc is called an unbalanced meal, which has long-term effects of poor nutrition on childhood. Such food leads to a weak immune system, which is easily prone to infections and fevers.
Conclusion
Poor nutrition in children remains a significant challenge, particularly in developing countries like India, where factors such as poverty, food insecurity, cultural practices, and lack of nutritional knowledge contribute to high rates of malnutrition. Addressing this issue requires a multi-faceted approach, involving not only parents and caregivers but also policymakers, educators, and healthcare professionals. By promoting balanced diets, raising awareness about the importance of nutrition, and ensuring access to healthy foods, we can help children achieve better health outcomes, leading to improved physical and cognitive development. Collaborative and sustained efforts are essential to overcoming malnutrition and securing a healthier future for the next generation
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