Malnutrition can affect many organs in the body, affecting psychology, causing anxiety and mood swings. This condition causes children to have slow physical development, a weakened immune system, and to be susceptible to disease and infection.
Lack of nutrition affects children’s brain development. During the period of 3-5 years old, children’s brains develop rapidly. Babies need to supplement necessary micronutrients for cell proliferation, DNA replication, nerve transmission, and hormone metabolism – essential components of the enzyme system throughout the brain.
In your case, your child has just entered grade 1, learns slowly, has difficulty concentrating, and may not be familiar with the learning method in the new environment. Parents should pay more attention and accompany their children. If your child shows signs of depression, anxiety, or difficulty concentrating, you should take him or her to be examined at a reputable medical facility. If the child does not gain weight, has poor mobility, loss of appetite, fatigue, irritability, bloated abdomen, flabby limbs, dry hair and skin… you also need to be examined.
Depending on the cause, age, and level of malnutrition of the child, the doctor chooses the appropriate treatment method. Children will be supplemented with missing nutrients, adjust their diet accordingly, and resolve the cause of malnutrition.
Your child’s daily diet needs to ensure that it provides all 4 important nutritional groups including protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. Children need to increase their intake of fruits and vegetables and supplement foods to support the digestive system. You should form healthy living habits for your children such as getting enough sleep, playing sports, deworming, vaccination, and regular health check-ups as recommended by the doctor.
For children to be healthy, the mother’s health before pregnancy is also important. Women also need to pay attention to their diet and get fully vaccinated before getting pregnant. Pregnant mothers should have regular prenatal checkups so they can receive intervention and advice on adjusting their diet accordingly, so that their babies are born at a reduced risk of malnutrition.