Chennai: “Under-nutrition is more of a threat to a developing baby than over nutrition as it threatens the optimal growth in terms of the body as well as the cognitive growth,” said Dr. Robert Murray, doctor and professor in the department of human nutrition at Ohio State University.
Though India is making significant strides in improving child health and nutrition, every year, millions of children succumb to the scourge of a deficiency in vitamins and minerals, which, according to doctors, is one of the major causes of mortality and morbidity among infants.
Stressing on a Unicef report, which revealed that children between the age group of six and 23 months are not fed the right kind of food and not frequently enough, Dr Murray said, “Nutrition has to be done right. The basic metabolism of a growing baby is two-and-a-half times more than that of an adult.”
Echoing the same, Dr. Levin R., a pediatrician in the city, said, “The first three-and-a-half years in a child’s life lays the foundation for, and shapes the state of his health for the latter part of his life. The intake of nutrient dense food during this time is paramount to ensure that the child reaches his full potential when it comes to physical growth.”
On the importance of feeding a baby only breast milk until six months of age, Dr. Murray said that it is essential that the parents of the child understand that a baby continues to develop at a rapid pace and needs to be fed accordingly.
Breast milk is more than nutrition, it is a bioactive nutrient, he added, stressing on the need for mothers to refrain from using a replacement to the same.
“Children, as they grow, tend to go through a phase during their toddler hood, wherein they get extremely picky about food, and may later show some interest, provided the food is given to them again.”
“Parents should ensure they bring the food back to the child over and over again, which is the secret to getting the child to eat something new. Also, the child should also be given small servings of everything, to widen the child’s feeding experience,” added Dr. Murray, who is in Chennai to talk to mothers and pediatricians on the importance of linking nutrition and growth.
