Health fact on nutrition

Nutrition is analyse to be the intake of food, supplement or substance; considered in relation to the body's dietary needs. Good nutrition - an adequate, well balanced diet combined with regular physical activities or exercise - is a cornerstone of good health. Poor nutrition can lead to reduced immunity, increased susceptibility to disease, impaired physical and mental development, and reduced productivity.

Malnutrition is estimated to contribute to more than one third of all child deaths, although it is rarely listed as the direct cause, according to WHO. Lack of access to high nutritious foods, especially in the present context of rising food prices, is a common cause of malnutrition or poor nutrition. However, poor feeding practices, such  as inadequate breastfeeding, offering the wrong foods, and not ensuring that the child or adult get enough nutritious food, contribute to malnutrition. Infections such as pneumonia, measles, persistent diarrhea, malaria and even non-communicable diseases can also undermines a child or adult's nutritional status.

Nutrition is a critical part of health and development. Better nutrition is related to improved infant, child and maternal health, stronger immune systems, safer pregnancy and childbirth, lower risk of non-communicable diseases ( such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease), and longevity.

Healthy children learn better. People with adequate nutrition are more productive and can create opportunities ti gradually break the cycles of poverty and hunger. As malnutrition, in every form, presents significant threats to human health.

This health facts explores the risks posed by all forms  of malnutrition, starting from the earliest stages of development, and expect every individual to take action in addressing all forms of malnutrition to support health and well being for all, at all ages.

1. Under-nutrition during pregnancy creates risks: Maternal under-nutrition, common in many low and middle-income countries, leads to poor fetal deevelopment and higher risk of pregnancy complications. Together, maternal and child under-nutrition account for more 10% of the global burden of disease, according to World Health Organization.

2.Exclusive breastfeeding could prevent a good number of death rate in children: The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for six (6) months, introducing age-appropriate and safe complementary foods at six (6) months, and continuing breastfeeding for up to two (2) years or beyond. Appropriate feeding decreases rate of stunting and obesity and stimulates intellectual development in young children. Breastfeeding also prevent breast and ovarian cancer in mothers.

3. Nutrition is critical in adolescent girls to avoid anemia: Nutritional problems in adolescents start during childhood and continue to adult life. Anemia is a key nutritional problem in adolescent girls. Preventing early pregnancies and assuring adequate intakes of essential nutrients for developing girls can reduce maternal and child deaths later, and stop cycle of malnutrition from one generation to the next. Globally, anemia affects and average number of pregnant women.

4. Malnutrition - a form of obesity and overweight: The rise in overweight and obesity worldwide is a major public health challenge. People of all ages and backgrounds face this form of malnutrition. As a consequence, rates of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and other diet-related conditions are escalating worldwide. These are very difficult to treat in places with limited resources and with already overburdened health systems, according to WHO 2016 figures.

5. Under-nutrition causes addiction in children: Children under the age of five (5) are mostly fun of linking their fingers, other people or their mother finger, their tongue, their lips and other sensitive part of their body closely related to their mouth. Most of them are fun of pressing their navel, robbing their penis and other addictive characters. These all and many others shows the sign of under-nutrition of the child.

6. Malnutrition contributes to disease and early deaths for mothers and children: Under-nutrition, including vitamin and mineral deficiencies,accounts for about one third of all child deaths, and impairs healthy development and life-long productivity. At the same time, growing rates of overweight are linked to a rise in chronic diseases. The result is a double burden on malnutrition, according to World Health Organization.

7. A key indicator of chronic malnutrition is stunting: Stunting is when children are too short for their age group compared to the WHO child growth standards. About 155 million children are stunted globally, according to WHO 2016 figures, resulting from not enough food, a vitamin and mineral-poor diet, inadequate child care and disease. As growth slows down, brain development lags and stunted children learn poorly. Stunting rates among children are highest in Africa and Asia, as a result of malnutrition.

8. Vitamin and mineral deficiencies are still prevalent worldwide: Essential vitamins and minerals in the diet are very vital to boost immunity and healthy development. Vitamin A, zinc, iron and iodine deficiencies are primary public health concerns. According to World Health Organization, there are about 33% of women of reproductive age, and 42% of children 6-59 months of age are anemia, with up to one-half considered to be amenable to iron supplementation. Vitamin A deficiency affects 29% of children 6-59 months of age in low and middle-income countries, and is a risk factor for blindness and for mortality from measles and diarrhea.