Early Prevention of Malnutrition

Today has been a lot of problems of nutritional deficiency can be overcome. Nevertheless there are still some countries which still is a problem and require greater attention, namely the problem of micro nutrient deficiency, such as iodine, iron and vitamin A.

Malnutrition at an early age have an adverse impact on adulthood that is manifested in physical form are smaller with lower productivity levels. The impact of malnutrition at an early age becomes increasingly important when consider analysis of existing data. The results strengthen the hypothesis that analysis of the prevalence of malnutrition at an early age to the onset of degenerative diseases in adulthood that is precisely the productive age.

Malnutrition in childhood is always associated with a deficiency of specific vitamins and minerals, which are associated with certain micro nutrients. In recent years increasing attention to the consequences of micro nutrient deficiencies, starting from the increased risk of infectious disease and death that can inhibit growth and mental development.

The consequences of micro nutrient deficiencies during childhood are very dangerous. Iron deficiency can impair mental and motor development of children and also cause anemia. Zinc deficiency can also impair growth and increase the risk of diarrhea and respiratory infections. Given the high prevalence of deficiencies of certain nutrients as well as negative effects, the supplementation of nutrients such as iron and zinc in children will be very useful, especially because it is practically difficult to raise adequate nutrients from the diet of babies around for this. Some of the foods given to infants and children tend to inhibit iron absorption such as phytic acid and zinc contained in grains and dairy cows that can reduce the absorption of iron and zinc.

Specific micro nutrient supplementation always have obstacles and barriers. Nutritional needs of children aged 6-24 months increased with the rapid growth of the child. While breast's milk and eating a poor child can not meet those needs. It would require an alternative to meet the shortfall, that is by way of supplementation of certain substances that can help growing children.

In several countries have done some research on Zn and Fe supplementation. Several studies showed that zinc supplementation can reduce infectious diseases (diarrhea and cough) and increase the growth of children.

Childhood Obesity

Childhood obesity has become a major health problem that continues to evolve. In America the incidence of overweight in children and adults increased to three times in the past three decades and the increase has reached an alarming point. Obesity in children and adolescents is also increasing. Approximately 1 in 3 children are overweight or at risk of overweight. Children who are obese in childhood have a 75% chance to be obese as well as adults later.

Recently declared obesity as a chronic disease with multi factor causes. Obesity is not caused by a single cause but rather by the complex relationship between genetic factors, physiological, metabolic, psychological, socio-economic, lifestyle and cultural factors.

Obesity raises a variety of effects on growth and psychosocial development of children. Causes of psychosocial disorders in obese children may be caused by internal and external factors.

Internal factors derived from the child itself is a desire to attenuate the body and felt different from other children, causing children with obesity have low self-esteem and easily depressed. Due to obesity, the penis looks small because it was buried in fatty tissue (buried penis), it can cause embarrassment because they feel different from other children. Body odor or aroma is less pleasant because of the laceration in the area of ​​skin folds, causing a child to withdraw from the vicinity.

External factors from the environment to the stigma on obese children as children who are lazy, stupid and slow. Could also be due to the inability to carry out a task / activity mainly due to the existence of barriers sports movement by obesity.

Children with obesity are generally rarely played with their peers. Tends to be alone, not included in the game, as well as awkward or withdraw from social contact. So with such conditions verbal creativity in obese children is questionable. This is due to a lack of confidence, negative self-perception and low self-esteem because they feel different from other children so that the subject of ridicule of his friends.

Psychological problems associated with obesity in children include a negative self-esteem, isolated from interactions with peers, depression, anxiety, feelings of chronic rejection and creativity tends to decline. Excessive obesity in children will usually lead to activity and creativity of children will decrease, and then with overweight children to become lazy.