Millions of children worldwide suffer malnutrition in the first five years of their lives. According to a 2020 report of the UNICEFWHO-WB Joint Child Malnutrition Inter-Agency Group, 149.2 million children under 5 years of age were too short for their age (stunting), 45.4 million were too thin for their height (wasting) and 38.9 million too heavy for their height (overweight). Child malnutrition is prevalent in cities and villages, developed and developing countries.
In several middle-class homes, toddlers, because of exposure to junk foods, tend to consume high-calorie, low-nutrient foods rich in sugar and fat but lacking in essential vitamins and minerals. Nutritional and especially micronutrient deficiencies in children result in poor physical growth, reduced cognitive development, and increased risk of illness.
It's important for parents to understand that early childhood is a period of intense mental and physical development and that children need to follow a wellbalanced and healthy diet.
Here are some of the most common nutritional deficiencies prevalent in early childhood, and their antidotes:
Iron
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