Why are obese children still malnourished?

Doctor Le Huyen Nhi, Department of Nutrition, Tam Anh General Hospital, Hanoi, said the above information, adding that there are many causes leading to this condition, the most common being an imbalance in the diet. This causes the child’s body to have excess energy and gain weight but mainly gain fat, lack of muscle, anemia, lack of essential nutrients, and rickets, leading to hidden malnutrition.

In addition, children who are not breastfed in the first 6 months of life, drink milk that is not suitable for their age, and have little exposure to sunlight will lose the opportunity to absorb vitamin D, making them susceptible to calcium deficiency. Children who eat solid foods before 5 months of age are susceptible to metabolic disorders, limiting their ability to absorb calcium. Children who are sedentary also cause excess energy to be stored as fat, which can lead to the risk of malnutrition and obesity.

“The myth that only skinny children are malnourished makes it difficult for obese children to detect malnutrition for early treatment,” said Dr. Nhi.

Like 2-year-old An, who came to Tam Anh General Hospital in Hanoi for a nutritional and ENT check-up. Hong, the child’s mother, was surprised when the doctor diagnosed her child with stunted growth and micronutrient deficiencies. She weighed 14.8 kg and was 82 cm tall. “Compared to her friends, she is shorter but weighs much more,” said Hong.

Of the approximately 90 nutrients needed for comprehensive body development, your baby may lack many different nutrients at the same time such as calcium, iron, zinc, magnesium, vitamins A, D, B…

According to the Pediatrician, although prolonged micronutrient deficiency is not life-threatening, if not detected in time, the baby is at risk of slow growth, weakened immunity, fatigue, difficulty sleeping, or sweating. theft, poor flexibility, poor concentration. Children under one year old are often slow to speak, slow to walk, slow to grow teeth, have soft fontanels, slow fontanel healing… When the disease progresses seriously, children are susceptible to digestive and respiratory diseases, rickets, leading to chest deformities. , humpbacked. Obesity also increases the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, cancer (especially colorectal cancer), osteoarthritis, and lipid disorders.

To detect the disease, the doctor performs a clinical examination combined with specialized micronutrient concentration testing, measures body composition, and analyzes anthropometric indicators (height, weight, chest circumference, head circumference, etc.) for the child. From there, the doctor assesses the child’s nutritional status, related diseases, and daily diet.

Once the diagnosis is accurate, the doctor will adjust the diet to be balanced, complete, and appropriate for each indication, disease, and preference of the child. The child will be advised on a scientific exercise and physical activity regimen.

Pediatricians recommend preventing obesity-related malnutrition from the time a woman is pregnant until her child goes to school. During pregnancy, pregnant women should supplement all essential nutrients and have enough energy. In the first half hour after birth, the baby needs to be breastfed to absorb the nutrients in colostrum. In the first 6 months of life, the baby should be breastfed and breastfed until 24 months of age. Parents should avoid giving their children solid foods before 6 months of age. The solid diet should be varied, and a nutritionist should be consulted to ensure that the baby gets enough nutrients.

Children under three years old need to be supplemented with all 4 groups of substances (protein, fat, starch, vitamins and minerals) in sufficient amounts. Add more green vegetables and fruits to your child’s daily diet, while reducing processed foods, high in fat, sugar, carbonated soft drinks…

Children need enough exposure to sunlight to increase the body’s ability to absorb calcium. The best time to sunbathe is around 7-8am. Parents should encourage their children to exercise regularly such as swimming, cycling, aerobics, badminton, jogging… to stimulate metabolism, increase nutrient absorption, and consume energy.