Malnutrition in Children Essay

Malnutrition in children is one of the some weighty brotherly and health trouble that face the unseasoned children in the modern world. Whether it is in the authentic world or the under demonstrable world, nutrition among the children has evolved to be a very important issue. Todays children atomic exit 18 faced with numerous physical, emotional, mental, spiritual and health challenges referable to malnutrition. While a child in a inadequate neighborhood in Africa is sleeping hungry, a child in a middle physical embody neighborhood in the United States is over indulging in rheumatic toss victualss.Malnutrition is therefore an important social and health problem in all parts of the world. There is however a misconception that malnutrition in children only affects children in poor society where there is wide spread hanger, just this is no nightlong true. The over indulgence of carbuncular junk foods which argon deficient in all important(p) nutrients such as vitam in, poor living corresponds, malabsorption and inadequate access to nutritionary precept and information on healthy alimentation argon some of the many factors that force p bents to make wrongfulness choices in the forest of food they inspection and repair their children.Consequently, the number of children deplorable from nutritionary deficiency and related health complication such as obesity, poor growth and development and diseases has increased significantly. It is the role of the government through the relevant agencies and department to experience nutritional education through a kingdomal education strategy to ensure that the general public is hale informed on the good eat habits as well as the consequences of malnutrition peculiarly in untried children (Dalton, 2005). Causes of Malnutrition in childrenMalnutrition is an important health problem in children overdue to its impacts on their growth and development. It is a condition that results from deficiency of essential nutrients such as vitamins, mineral salts and protein among others which be needed for the maintenance of health body functioning. Malnutrition can either occur as a result of under or over regimen of a child with particular nutrients. Therefore majority of children suffer from malnutrition in the demonstrable world directly because of dietary imbalance rather than the deficiency of nutrient as it is car park in the under developed world.Malnutrition can be caused by several factors which include poor diet and overleap of adequate education on health eating habits. a) Diet One of the major causes of nutritional imbalance among children is the diet. both parents turn their children directly or indirectly into improper selection of food or the modern society has over indulged in junk foods. Due to numerous promotions and advertisements in the troop media, children find fast foods more desirable.These may be snacked crisps, parked cakes and biscuit and other ready t o eat meals. These fast foods postulate poor quality nutrients and ingredients which are manufactured to look special using large amount of fats and sugars, artificial preservative and additives which relieve oneself disconfirming effects on the individuals health. There is no doubt that jack foods are processed food, ready to eat. These foods pass through the factories where the essential goodness of natural foods is removed and replaced with artificial additives and sweeteners.It is fire to note that despite these fast foods having a long list of additives and preservatives on their labels in the name of ingredients, parents continues feeding their children in these foods. Moreover, many of the ingredients in junk foods such as fats, sugars, salts and additives are unhealthy to the children. The short shape and long-term of such ingredients are well known. Junk foods are to a fault deficient in essential dietary components such as fiber, minerals and vitamins which are very e ssential in growth and development in children.The dietary imbalance in children as a result of junk food is very takings in the American society today (French, et al, 2001). It is important to note that one of the major causes of malnutrition in children is the choices of foods. Either knowingly or unknowingly, parents buy their children junk foods which are deficient in essential nutrients but father tall level of unhealthy ingredients. There are several reasons that make individuals to make bad choices of foods. It is as well as important to note that the parent may not feed his children on junk food but end up preparing food that is unhealthy to the child due to bad choices.In many cases, curiously in the underdeveloped world, parents may be forced by circumstances to make wrong choices for the foods they burst their children. Poverty and food insecurity in some poor countries leaves parents with very limited choices of food resulting into malnutrition in children. Food pr ices in the developed world may also force poor parents to make wrong choices of foods. However, the most important factor that determines the food choice parent give to their children is the level of education and the nutritional information held by the parent (Hills, et al, 2007).b) Education Research indicates that many children are malnourished not because of inaccessibility of food and essential dietary components but because of the information held by parents and guardians. People who have the responsibility of providing their children with food have very little or no information on the quality of food they are expected to give their children. For example, the food and agricultural organization has argued that about 80 percent of malnourished individuals especially children live in areas around the world that have sufficient food supplies.Although poverty and food prices are also important factors, the level of information on implications of unhealthy eating habits is an impor tant factor. In the American society, children are not malnourished because of inadequate food supplies but because of the choices of food. Children in America and other developed countries are increasingly becoming obese due uptake of unhealthy foods. There are no proper mechanisms of educating parents on health eating habits in children which as resulted into the society relying in misinformation from promotions and advertisements in the bulk media.For example, inadequate breast feeding in infants is one of the major causes of nutritional imbalance in new-fangled children. Although there are many factors that contribute to poor breastfeeding such as changing lifestyles and job demands, deficiency of education on its importance on the health of the child id the most important factor (Hills, et al, 2007). set up of Malnutrition in Children a) Obesity Over the years, obesity in children in the American society has reached epidemic levels. The percentage of children suffering fro m obesity in the American society has risen from below five percent in 1960s to over twenty percent today.Obesity has evolved from a condition that was in the past common among the rich families to a problem in the entire society. The number of children from poor families and middle class families suffering from obesity has increased significantly. Due to the increased prevalence of obesity among the young population, it has been rated as one of the most important health concern (Peter, 2005). The principle cause of obesity in children is unhealthy eating habits. new(prenominal) factors may include genetic makeup, medical and psychological factors as well as lifestyles.The parents eating habits has been considered to be the biggest influence that play a significant role in the development of obesity in young people. Consequently, over weight parents have over weight children not because of genetic makeup but due to poor eating habits. Doctors have confirmed that the parents are not feeding their children with the right food which resulting into nutritional imbalance. The increased dependence on junk food as well as sedentary lifestyles pick out in the western world where children have not time for physical exercise has created a nation where a third of the children are over weight.This may be a time bomb since this creates a generation that will be faced with numerous health complications such as diabetes, high downslope cholesterol and heart diseases (Dietz, 1998). b) Diseases Inadequate supply of essential dietary nutrients to the body in children is exhibited in miscellaneous forms of diseases and disorders. It is important to note that the world health organization maintains that malnutrition and related complications is the most important health problem facing children in the world being the largest cause of child mortality globally, either directly or indirectly.Majority of malnutrition diseases are caused by lack or inadequate supply of essential nu trients. These diseases include marasmus, kwashiorkor, anemia and hyponatremia to mention but a few. Marasmus is caused by calories deficient, kwashiorkor by acute protein deficient, anemia by lack of compact and hyponatremia by lack of sodium. These deficient diseases are more common in the developing world due to widespread poverty and food insecurity. There are other numerous diseases that are caused by lack of essential vitamins and minerals.Other disorders that have been associated with poor eating habits includes eating disorders, anorexia nervosa and bulimia, stress disorders and depression, risk of drug abuse, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, type 2 diabetes and poor development of reproductive systems (Allen & Myers, 2006). Prevention of the malnutrition in children There is no doubt that malnutrition is both a field of study and international problem. Due to the large number of children with nutritional imbalance condition, the resultant health complication i n the future may be overpower to the national health systems.It is therefore important for the relevant authority to implement the most appropriate educational programs that will educate the public especially parents on feeding children with health diets. Strategies that encourage adequate breastfeeding of infants and the dangers of unhealthy junk foods are recommended. Educating the parent to change their lifestyles and take responsibility of their childrens eating habit is also essential. Educating parents of obese children for example will assist them identify the root cause of the problem and design an interpolation plan.It is also important for the parents to be aware of the nutritional need of their children which can be provided through polite education strategies (Hills, et al, 2007). The influence of the mass media in the modern world is not in doubt. Manufacturers of junk foods have bombarded the young people with advertisement which has had a significant influence on t heir eating habits. The same mass media can be used as a channel of educating the public on the importance of eating healthy foods.Media campaigns and advertisement that discourage unhealthy eating habits and educates people on dangers of malnutrition as well as nutritional requirement can possibly reverse the situation. However, these media promotions and advertisement should be carried out carefully to lift magnifying the already developing social stigma against overweight members of the society. Promotion of physical education in discipline and encouraging children to involve themselves in physical exercises such as playing sport, walking a cut through or riding a bicycle should be a top priority.There should be no excuse for physical education in schools while the parents should discourage passive activities at home such watching TV or playing computer games (French, et al, 2001). Conclusion Over indulgence in unhealthy junk foods rather that inadequate food supply is the mos t important form of malnutrition among American children today. These foods are deficient in essential dietary component and have high amounts of fats, sugars, salts, artificial additives and preservatives that have negative effects on childrens health.There is a need for the government through the relevant departments to implement policies and strategies that will save the children from malnutrition. This includes educating the parents on appropriate food for the children and promoting physical exercises among children. Strategies to combat numerous commercial advertisements of junk foods which make them look more attractive compared to healthy home made food should be developed and implemented. These policies should go hand in hand with ensuring increased access to quality and affordable foodstuffs.Reference Allen, R. E. & Myers, A . L (2006). Nutrition in toddlers. American family physician 74 (9) 152732. Blossner, M. & Mercedes, O. (2005). Malnutrition, quantifying the health im pact at national and local levels, retrieved on August 18th 2010 from http//whqlibdoc. who. int/publications/2005/9241591870. pdf. Dalton, S. (2005). Our Overweight Children What Parents, Schools, and Communities Can Do to Control the Fatness Epidemic, Los Angeles, CA University of California Press, Dietz, W. H (1998). Health consequences of obesity in youth childhood predictors of adult disease.pediatric medicine 101 (3 Pt 2) pp 51825. French S. A, Story, M, Neumark-Sztainer, D, Fulkerson J. A, Hannan P. (2001). Fast food restaurant use among adolescents associations with nutrient intake, food choices and behavioural and psychosocial variables. Int. J. Obes. Relat. Metab. Disord. 25 (12) 182333 Hills, A. P. , King, N. A. & Byrne, N. M. (2007). Children, obesity and exercise prevention, treatment and management of childhood and adolescent obesity, New York, NY Routledge Peter, G. K. (2005). clinical obesity in adults and children In Adults and Children. Hoboken, NJ Blackwell