HEIGHT is one of the critical growth indicators amongst children. Your child's height can tell you a lot of things, one of them is the state of his or her health.
Genetics only determines 20 per cent of a child's height.
Environmental factors — such as proper nutrition and exercise, play a pivotal role to ensure children grow taller and healthier, especially during their critical development period.
The Ministry of Health has launched awareness campaigns to prevent stunting amongst Malaysian children. These campaigns promote the importance of proper nutrition, as well as the effects of stunting on children. According to the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2019, the rate of stunting in Malaysia has increased as the study found that 1 in 5 Malaysian children under the age of five is stunted.
The prevalence of stunting in Thailand and Ghana is at 10.5 per cent and 18.8 per cent respectively, which is a stark contrast to the condition of stunting in Malaysia, which is at 21.9 per cent.
Stunting is worse in lower-income households; however, it is still broadly prevalent across all income levels in Malaysia.
Malaysia has a stunting problem, and parents should take the necessary steps to help their children grow taller and healthier.
Aside from genetics, nutrition plays a vital role in assisting children's growth and development, as balanced and sufficient nutrition can significantly influence one's height.
As parents, it is crucial to keep tabs on required nutrients to ensure your children can grow optimally.
Some of the key nutrients are the 9 Essential Amino Acids (9 EAAs), which consist of taurine, L-isoleucine, L-leucine, L-lysine, L-methionine, L-phenylalanine, L-threonine, L-tryptophan, and L-valine. They are the building blocks in protein for bones and muscle growth.
Additionally, these essential amino acids cannot be produced naturally by our body so we need to get them from dietary sources.
Apart from the 9 Essential Amino Acids, Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) — an omega-3 fatty acid that can be found naturally in oily fish and some seaweed, is also crucial for your child's brain and eye development.
Ensuring your children get the required macrominerals — calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus, and microminerals — iron, zinc, iodine, selenium and copper, is also necessary.
Alongside these minerals, your children should also consume sufficient amounts of Vitamins — fat-soluble vitamins (vitamin A, D3, E, and K) and water-soluble vitamins (vitamin B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, C, and folic acid), to ensure proper body functions and development, especially during the early childhood period.
The findings by the South East Asian Nutrition Surveys (SEANUTS), has revealed that 1 out of 2 Malaysian children did not achieve the Recommended Nutrients Intakes (RNI) for calcium and vitamin D 9.
An easy way to address sufficient nutritional intake is through dairy consumption.
Though there may be a large variety of milk currently available in the market, it's best to choose nutrient-dense milk to ensure your children get the much-needed nutrients for optimum growth.
But growing taller and healthier is not just about what the child eats; an active lifestyle is important too. Sedentary lifestyles amongst children is an alarming concern in Malaysia, especially with the rising use of mobile devices.
According to the Active Healthy Kids 2016 report card, on a scale of "A" for excellent to "F" for failing, Malaysia scored "D" for overall physical activity, active transportation and sedentary behaviour.
Keeping your children active will not just start a good habit but will also help prevent sedentary-lifestyle-related health risks.
Ultimately, the best way to be sure if your child's growth is on track, is to measure his height consistently.
Tracking growth progress will help parents identify problems before they become permanent. Try to turn it into a fun activity for you and your child.
This will encourage them to aim high for their wellness.
*The writer is a consultant paediatrician at Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur.
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