Latest news with #childnutrition
Mail & Guardian
4 days ago
- Business
- Mail & Guardian
Childhood stunting is also stunting South Africa's economy
More than a quarter of South African children under the age of five are chronically malnourished. That's bad for them, their families and the economy. (Envato) Make a list of the country's 10 priorities for national development. Now whittle them down to five. Does your shortlist include giving children enough nutritious food to eat? If not, you're missing an essential part of what countries need to grow their economies. Children who are well nourished and ready to learn, grow up to be skilled and productive workers that drive economic growth. South Africa has a stubbornly high stunting rate; if a child is too short for their age, it is an indication of chronic malnutrition. Despite tough economic circumstances, we can make a huge difference to child nutrition. Peru halved its rate of stunting among children in Make proteins cheaper The The body can convert excess carbohydrates into some amino acids — the building blocks of protein — but it can't produce nine amino acids that are essential for normal growth. Child obesity among poorer children is often linked to a shortage of protein as cash-strapped parents buy cheaper processed foods and starches. This is why we are seeing an increase in the percentage of children who are All of society — government, business, civil society and trade unions — must unite to make a basket of protein-rich staples far more affordable. Another protein-rich food that must be made more affordable is infant formula. Globally, the profit margin on infant formula is north of This suggestion may sit uncomfortably with some, who might view it as undermining the message that 'breast is best'. The reality is that over half of all Make sure minerals and vitamins are added to food Micronutrients are vitamins and minerals — An effective way of making sure children are getting enough micronutrients is to add them to food staples like maize meal and wheat flour, and Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition found that 83% of maize meal in Gauteng and 69% in the Eastern Cape was unfortified or insufficiently fortified. Stricter enforcement should improve compliance, but it would be better if industry just did it without constant policing. There are other effective strategies to supplement micronutrients during pregnancy and the first two years of life. Instead of giving pregnant mothers iron and folate pills during pregnancy, they should get 15 different minerals and vitamins combined in one daily pill. This approach Among at-risk children aged six months to 24 months, small quantity lipid nutrient supplements (SQ-LNS) Healthy food for pregnant women Babies born with a birth weight below 2 500g, a Western Cape survey published in 2023 has shown, are The Western Cape government recently Community health workers Countries that have significantly reduced stunting have one thing in common: they can Community health workers (CHWs) are best placed to spot this problem because they visit families regularly, but they are not provided with basic scales to measure weight. Instead, they are issued with coloured tapes to measure Limit the advertising of unhealthy foods Parents want what is best for their children. However, the messages they are most exposed to are not from advocates of healthy living but from the Big Food industry which often encourages eating habits that lead to high blood pressure and diabetes in adulthood. The government should convene a meeting of the dominant food players to forge an agreement towards a healthier nation, which should include constraints on the advertising of unhealthy foods. The five objectives outlined above are attainable even in a cash-constrained environment, but they won't happen without leadership and coordination. The National Food and Nutrition Council is yet to be constituted, but even if it were, its decisions would still need to be rolled out by departmental officials who are relatively junior in the government hierarchy. Good nutrition is so vital to socioeconomic progress that consideration should be given to appointing a 'nutrition czar' with enough authority to drive a strong national programme that could reset the country's trajectory of development over the next decade. David Harrison is a medical doctor and chief executive of the This story was produced by the . Sign up for the .
South China Morning Post
21-05-2025
- Health
- South China Morning Post
Diet plight of shoebox children Hong Kong's shame
The problems with subdivided living spaces in Hong Kong have been so well covered that there is probably no need for more reports to prompt tighter regulations. But a recent study on malnourished children living in such shameful shoebox dwellings is yet another reason for swift action by the government. Officials must not shy away from taking resolute and timely decisions to outlaw substandard units. According to humanitarian organisation World Vision Hong Kong, nearly four in five children in subdivided households suffer different degrees of insufficient nutrition intake. For instance, more than 86.4 per cent were found not to be eating enough dairy products and 76.2 per cent were not meeting the recommended intake of vegetables. Those who needed to consume more meat and grain accounted for 60 per cent and 49 per cent respectively. Serious concerns have been raised as the shortfalls are apparently higher than the average among local children. Adding to the problem is that low-income families may not realise children have poor diets until health problems, such as delayed growth and constipation, emerge.
Daily Mail
14-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
RFK Jr.'s fiery monologue over the state of children's nutrition
By Published: | Updated: RFK Jr had an explosive exchange with two members of the House Appropriations Committee over plans to make school lunches healthier for children. Kennedy launched into a fiery monologue about the state of children's nutrition after beginning to calmly describe updated federal nutrition guidelines that will tell people 'eat whole food.' 'I've been touring these Head Start facilities, and everything they eat is in a package. It's loaded with sugar and with chemicals,' he told Rep John Moolenaar of Michigan. 'We're poisoning this generation… the poorest kids in our country, and we're starting them out with this count against them.' Head Start, a federal early education program for low-income families with kids under 5, faces elimination under Trump's latest budget proposal, which would cut school funding for over 500,000 pregnant women, babies, and children. 'If anybody thinks that we did gold standard medicine in this country from these institutions, look at our children! They're the sickest children in the world,' Kennedy exclaimed. Last month, RFK and fellow federal health officials announced they had come to 'an understanding' with food manufacturers on a proposal to phase out the use of Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, Blue 2, and Green 3 by the end of 2026 and start using natural alternatives. Foods still contain dyes and additives. 'Let's work together and do something that we all believe in, which is to have healthy kids in our country for God's sake,' RFK said. Emerging research shows that eating or drinking high amounts of Red 40 and similar synthetic dyes may contribute to hyperactivity and behavioral changes in children, including those without an ADHD diagnosis. Evidence suggests these additives can worsen attention deficits and impulse control in sensitive individuals. A Canadian study further uncovered that Allura Red (Red 40) may disrupt gut function, impairing the absorption of essential nutrients, water, and electrolytes. This breakdown in intestinal barriers could heighten susceptibility to inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Additionally, Blue 1—commonly found in gummy candies and processed snacks—has also been tied to inattention and hyperactivity in kids. Earlier in the hearing, RFK was confronted on food dyes by Tennessee Rep Chuck Fleischmann, whose jurisdiction includes Chattanooga-based M&M Industries. The colors currently in use by most food manufacturers 'are approved by the FDA [and] have been deemed safe for many years,' the Congressman said. Despite FDA approval under its 'Generally Recognized As Safe' (GRAS) designation, synthetic food dyes like Red 40 have been linked in high quantities to hyperactivity and developmental issues in children. The GRAS system—a self-regulated process where companies determine ingredient safety via internal scientific panels—has drawn sharp criticism from RFK Jr, who argues food manufacturers have 'flown under the radar' for too long. RFK has been an additive-free food crusader for decades, and has made eliminating them from foods a centerpiece of his Make America Health Again Movement. Among his major goals in his tenure as head of Health and Human Services, which has jurisdiction over the FDA, is to make a sizable dent in the rates of chronic diseases plaguing young people in the US. An estimated 10,000 additives are permitted in the food Americans eat.
Daily Mail
14-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Wild moment RFK Jr. goes NUCLEAR on Democrat lawmaker for weaponizing children's health: 'Give me credit!'
RFK Jr had an explosive exchange with two members of the House Appropriations Committee over plans to make school lunches healthier for children. Kennedy launched into a fiery monologue about the state of children's nutrition after beginning to calmly describe updated federal nutrition guidelines that will tell people 'eat whole food.' 'I've been touring these Head Start facilities, and everything they eat is in a package. It's loaded with sugar and with chemicals. 'We're poisoning this generation… the poorest kids in our country, and we're starting them out with this count against them.' Head Start, a federal early education program for low-income families with kids under 5, faces elimination under Trump's latest budget proposal, which would cut school funding for over 500,000 pregnant women, babies, and children. 'If anybody thinks that we did gold standard medicine in this country from these institutions, look at our children! They're the sickest children in the world,' Kennedy exclaimed. Kennedy turned to Connecticut Democrat Rosa DeLauro, who has authored legislation, written to Congress, worked with advocacy groups, and pressured the industry to remove dyes and additives from food for decades. 'Congresswoman DeLauro, you say you've worked for 20 years on getting food dye out,' RFK said. 'Give me credit! I got it out in 100 days.' Last month, RFK and fellow federal health officials announced they had come to 'an understanding' with food manufacturers on a proposal to phase out the use of Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, Blue 2, and Green 3 by the end of 2026 and start using natural alternatives. Foods still contain dyes and additives. 'Let's work together and do something that we all believe in, which is to have healthy kids in our country for God's sake,' RFK said. Emerging research shows that eating or drinking high amounts of Red 40 and similar synthetic dyes may contribute to hyperactivity and behavioral changes in children, including those without an ADHD diagnosis. Evidence suggests these additives can worsen attention deficits and impulse control in sensitive individuals. A Canadian study further uncovered that Allura Red (Red 40) may disrupt gut function, impairing the absorption of essential nutrients, water, and electrolytes. This breakdown in intestinal barriers could heighten susceptibility to inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Additionally, Blue 1—commonly found in gummy candies and processed snacks—has also been tied to inattention and hyperactivity in kids. Earlier in the hearing, RFK was confronted on food dyes by Tennessee Rep Chuck Fleischmann, whose jurisdiction includes Chattanooga-based M&M Industries. The colors currently in use by most food manufacturers 'are approved by the FDA [and] have been deemed safe for many years,' the Congressman said. Despite FDA approval under its 'Generally Recognized As Safe' (GRAS) designation, synthetic food dyes like Red 40 have been linked in high quantities to hyperactivity and developmental issues in children. The GRAS system—a self-regulated process where companies determine ingredient safety via internal scientific panels—has drawn sharp criticism from RFK Jr, who argues food manufacturers have 'flown under the radar' for too long.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Five minutes of junk food advertising ‘leads children to eat 130 extra calories'
Five minutes of junk food advertising results in children consuming 130 extra calories per day, researchers say. A study found that advertising and marketing across platforms such as social media, TV and podcasts all had a similar effect. The research, which has not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal, was presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Malaga. The study found that seven to 15-year-olds exposed to five minutes of adverts for foods high in saturated fat, sugar, and/or salt (HFSS) consumed on average 130 extra calories per day – the equivalent of a small chocolate bar. Lead author, Professor Emma Boyland from the University of Liverpool, said: 'Even short exposure to marketing of foods high in fat, salt and sugar can drive excess calorie consumption and potentially weight gain, particularly in young people who are more susceptible to advertising and whose eating patterns influence their lifelong health.' The research included 240 children aged seven to 15. Analysis showed that following exposure to HFSS food ads, children consumed more snacks (an extra 58.4 calories), more lunch (an extra 72.5 calories), and more food overall (snack and lunch combined) than after exposure to non-food advertising. Those children with a higher body mass index also showed a 'greater responsivity' to the food adverts, experts found. The Government is introducing a ban on the targeting of junk food adverts at children from October this year. It estimates this will prevent thousands of cases of childhood obesity. The restrictions affect advertising for less healthy food or drink on television between 5.30am and 9pm, alongside paid-for advertising online at any time. Other types of advertising, such as billboards and other outdoor advertising, are not be affected by the change.
