China Student Nutrition Day | How should children with growth retardation be fed?

May 20th is the 34th China Student Nutrition Day. This year's theme is "Scientific diet helps children grow up healthily."

Is the child's height normal? Is the nutrition adequate? Is the child's development normal? These are questions that many parents are concerned about.

If a child's height is lower than the normal height reference value for the same age and gender, it may be growth retardation. This reflects a long-term dietary nutritional imbalance and is a type of malnutrition.

The "Report on the Nutrition and Chronic Disease Status of Chinese Residents (2020)" shows that the stunting rate among children under 6 years old in my country is 4.8%, and the stunting rate among children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 is 1.7%; the stunting rate among rural children is higher than that in urban children.

Stunting not only reduces children's disease resistance, but also increases the risk of overweight, obesity and cardiovascular disease in adulthood. In order to further reduce the rate of stunting and promote the healthy growth of children and adolescents, in January this year, the National Health Commission issued the "Guidelines for Dietary Treatment of Children and Adolescents with Stunting (2023 Edition)", which puts forward relevant suggestions for improving children's stunting in terms of food selection and diet.

Growth retardation

Food nourishment

1. Eat a variety of foods to ensure adequate nutritional intake

Children and adolescents are at an important stage of growth and development, and they should ensure adequate energy and nutrient intake. They should have a variety of foods, including at least 3 types of food such as cereals and potatoes, vegetables and fruits, livestock, poultry, fish, eggs, milk and soybeans for each meal; they should have at least 12 types of food per day and at least 25 types per week. They should pay attention to the exchange of similar foods, enrich the variety of food, and make the colors and varieties of food match each other to make it colorful.

2. Choose high-nutrient-density foods

Children and adolescents with growth retardation should choose high-nutrient-density foods on the basis of a balanced diet. Appropriately increase the intake of foods rich in high-quality protein, such as lean meat, aquatic products, poultry, eggs, and soybeans. Consume calcium-rich foods such as milk and dairy products every day, and pay attention to the intake of foods rich in vitamin D. At the same time, eat enough fresh vegetables and fruits.

3. Arrange three meals reasonably and eat a good breakfast

Arrange daily meals reasonably. Children aged 2 to 5 should have 3 meals and 2 snacks a day; children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 should arrange their meals reasonably and eat a good breakfast. Children and adolescents should not be picky eaters or diet excessively; choose snacks reasonably, drink less or no sugary drinks, and drink plenty of water.

Image source: Visual China

4. Food is fresh, hygienic and cooked properly

Parents and schools should provide children and adolescents with fresh and hygienic food, and choose more mild, easy-to-digest, spleen-strengthening and appetite-stimulating foods; cook food properly, choose more cooking methods such as steaming, boiling and stewing, and use less frying, deep-frying and baking. For younger children, the size and hardness of food should be suitable for children to chew. Children should also be encouraged to try new foods, guided to concentrate on eating, and create a warm dining environment.

5. Chinese medicine dietary supplement

Reasonable and effective TCM diet therapy can help prevent and improve growth retardation in children. On the basis of a balanced diet, follow the TCM diet therapy principle. Diet therapy should be tailored to the individual, the place and the time. According to different growth retardation syndromes, add appropriate food and medicine substances to the diet; choose appropriate food according to the geographical environment, eating habits and food supply characteristics of each region; pay attention to the impact of seasonal climate on the human body, and follow the principle of nourishing yang in spring and summer and nourishing yin in autumn and winter.

In addition to dietary nutrition, for children and adolescents in the critical period of growth and development, maintaining appropriate physical activity can enhance appetite, promote gastrointestinal motility, improve digestive function, strengthen bones and muscles, and promote growth and development.

Growth retardation

Adjust your lifestyle

1. Combine physical activity with muscle strengthening

Children and adolescents can engage in physical activity through moderate-intensity physical activities, such as rope skipping, basketball, swimming, etc., combined with traditional fitness methods, such as Ba Duan Jin, Wu Qin Xi, and martial arts.

It is recommended that children aged 2 to 5 years old should have a total of 3 hours of physical activity per day, including at least 2 hours of outdoor activities and at least 1 hour of moderate or higher intensity physical activity. Children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 years old should have at least 1 hour of medium to high intensity physical activity per day. For children and adolescents with growth retardation, they should also have 3 days of exercise per week to strengthen muscle strength and/or bone health, such as tug-of-war and long jump. Cultivate children and adolescents to have at least one sports skill, and encourage them to participate in sports in the form of games.

Image source: Visual China

2. Ensure the time and quality of sleep

Sufficient sleep is an important guarantee for children and adolescents' physical activity and growth and development. Poor sleep will affect the secretion of growth hormone. Children and adolescents should be trained to develop good sleeping habits and ensure sleep time and quality.

Children aged 2 to 5 years old should sleep 10 to 13 hours a day, including a 1 to 2 hour nap; children aged 6 to 12 years old should sleep 9 to 12 hours; children and adolescents aged 13 to 17 years old should sleep 8 to 10 hours.

In addition, schools and parents should regularly measure the height and weight of children and adolescents, assess their diet, exercise, sleep and psychological status, and provide targeted guidance to promote the healthy growth of children and adolescents.

Author: Wang Hongliang and Zhang Qian, Institute of Nutrition and Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Review: Experts from the National Health Science Expert Database

He Li, researcher at the Institute of Nutrition and Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Planning: Tan Jiayu Yunxi

Editor: Fan Hongyan