Nutrition and child development
Every human being requires food for proper body functioning.
However children require better
nutrition intake than the adults. Children growth and later development
(cognitive, physical and psychological) is greatly determined by nutrition
intake.
Cognitive development : Cognitive development is a term that covers human perception,
thinking, and learning. There are a
number of ways in which food and dietary intake determine the future cognitive
abilities in children. Low intake of
food or lack of access to proper dietary intake leads to malnutrition and in
severe instances can affect the general health.
Stunting and malnutrition is known to be responsible for a lower IQ in
children . However with early intervention this can be prevented in children up
to 9 years. Still malnutrition is known to affect a child’s education abilities
. Gibson & Green (2002) have shown that, in general, nutritional
composition does show a tendency to be related to mood and cognitive
differences. On an acute basis, a carbohydrate-rich but protein-poor meal can
have a sedative and anxiolytic effect. Protein-rich meals may improve reaction time
and be generally arousing but at the same time may increase unfocused
vigilance. Again, on an acute basis fat-rich meals can lead to a decline in
alertness especially where they differ from habitual fat intake. Protein-rich diets
as opposed to meals have been associated with a decrease in positive and an
increase in negative affect relative to carbohydrate-rich diets. In general, under
nutrition results in decreased activity levels, decreased social interactions, decreased
curiosity, and decreased cognitive functioning.
Physical development
: calories are necessary for child growth. Though the calories
requirements may differ , in general, A
report from 2011(NHS UK) estimated that the average energy requirements for
children aged 7-10 years old a day is:
Age
(years)
Boys
Girls
7 6900kJ /1649kcal 6400kJ /1530kcal
8 7300kJ /1745kcal 6800kJ /1625kcal
9 7700kJ /1840kcal 7200kJ /1721kcal
10 8500kJ /2032kcal 8100kJ /1936kcal
7 6900kJ /1649kcal 6400kJ /1530kcal
8 7300kJ /1745kcal 6800kJ /1625kcal
9 7700kJ /1840kcal 7200kJ /1721kcal
10 8500kJ /2032kcal 8100kJ /1936kcal
However these figures are a guide because a child may
need more or less depending on the environment and other factors. But limiting
intake of fatty foods or fast foods and promoting foods that include fruits,
vegetables, whole grains, dairy and lean protein may suffice. Protein aids
child body growth and development of strong muscles. Such foods include beef,
chicken, fish, beans, milk and nuts are good sources.
On the other hand , failure to meet the dietary body requirements
or poor dietary intake has its own side effects in children. A diet too high in
fat and calories can lead to obesity, which interferes with physical fitness,
but also raises the risk of heart disease, diabetes and cancer. A diet lacking
in proper nutrition can also result in stunted growth and bone disorders. Lack
of a nutritious diet also effects energy for physical pursuits. Poorly
nourished children have more problems fighting infections. They are sick most of the time and this leads
to school absenteeism and failure to cope with school demands. Bone is a living tissue that grows and changes
constantly. During childhood, bone grows at a higher rate and it peaks to
maximum density by the end of adolescence and early adulthood. Calcium is a
necessity for the growth of strong bones in childhood and maintaining healthy
bones throughout life.
Mental / psychological
health : mental health is defined as "serious changes in the ways children
handle their emotions, learn, or behave."(CDC) “we are what we eat” hence
the inability to provide nutritious food
to children leads to poor mental health . The first normative 2 years of a child area make or break because it is when physical and
brain growth is most active hence interference of that growth has dire
consequences to the future mental health of a child . It is important to note
that brain growth
begins before birth—with the nutrition of the mother. Under nutrition and the
resulting negative effects on brain development
during pregnancy and the first two years of life may be permanent and
irreversible. Most children
vulnerable to this are : children separated from caregivers, children whose caregiver has a physical or
mental disability, children whose
caregiver is alcohol or drug ,dependent children who are unaccompanied , children living in custodial care arrangements
(e.g., orphanages).
The brain
consumes a greater amount of energy than the rest of the body. That is why a
child who hasn’t had a meal will be restless, irritable and in the long run
this results in associated disorders like ADHD, stress , effective disorder
Mood disorders etc. . A new study published in the Lancet
and reported on Civil
Eats, confirms that a proper dietary intake makes a difference in our
lives. The study's lead author Dr.
Lidy Pelsser of the ADHD Research Centre in the Netherlands confirms that "Food
is the main cause of ADHD." The study found that in 64 percent of children
in the US with ADHD, the symptoms were caused by food. "It's a
hypersensitivity reaction to food.
In
cases of emergencies where access to food is critical , it’s essential to
provide and maintain at least a mean daily per capita intake of 2100Kcal and
46g of protein is recommended (UNICEF/UNHCR/WFP/WHO,2004) with rations that
cover the essential micro nutrients
Food and the right
dietary intake have direct consequences on a child’s growth. In cases of
emergencies or in cases of poor families who are unable to maintain a stable
supply of food, it’s essential to at least to provide high quality food at any
given time of feeding. In most cases ,
women don’t give greater attention to breast feeding but it’s the source of the
main nutrients necessary for child growth , thought mothers stable health plays
a bigger role.
Before writing this article, I was inspired by the video clip I watched on Facebook about a Syrian boy who has to wait for a doughnut to fall from a vendor, eats half and keeps another for the sibling at home. https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=614103635375892&set=vb.100003287823803&type=2&theater
Author
Mr. Deogratias Tibanyendera
Child Protection specialist
MPH -fellow (UK) , MA Child Psychology(Child
Mental Health) -IHMH-India, BA(SS) -Makerere University -Kampala Uganda
……………………………………………………………………………………
Skype: deotiba1
Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/tibanyendera-deogratias/3a/672/584/
No comments:
Post a Comment