Can obese children be malnourished?

Video content is professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor II Cao Thi Thanh - Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital

Malnutrition with obesity, also known as malnutrition in overweight and obese children. This is a condition in which children outside have good body fat and normal development but lack calcium, anemia, vitamin D, and rickets.

1. Causes of obesity and malnutrition Experts have pointed out a number of causes of obesity in young children including:
Children are not regularly exposed to sunlight to absorb sunlight. natural vitamin D intake. This may stem from the excessive abstinence mentality of many parents. Infants who are introduced to solid foods early (less than 4 months) lead to metabolic disorders, reduced calcium absorption. The diet is not balanced when there is a lack of protein and micronutrients such as calcium, iron, zinc, ... and an excess of energy from fat and sugar. For example, giving your child too much rice, bread, candy, and soft drinks. But do not add micronutrients, especially vitamin D and calcium. Parents choose milk that is not suitable for children. 2. Consequences of malnutrition and obesity. Malnutrition and overweight and obesity are intertwined, which is the gateway to many nutrition-related chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and blood lipids. , damage to joints, bones and some cancers, kidney, liver... If not adjusted, timely intervention will seriously affect the health of children.
Besides, these children look outside they have good body fat, but it is possible that children are deficient in: Calcium, vitamin D, blood, iron, rickets... Because in these children, the need for Calcium, phosphorus, vitamin D are higher than normal children, so if parents do not pay attention, they may not meet enough for children.
3. Preventing obesity and malnutrition in children Wanting children to develop in balance, parents need to have a healthy diet for their children. Nutrition experts advise parents to help children avoid and get rid of the risk of overweight and obesity through proper nutrition and exercise with simple solutions:
Need to reduce foods rich in fat, sugar, eat a lot of vegetables because vegetables contain a lot of fiber, minerals and water to help balance the rich nutritional composition of children. At the same time, giving milk to children helps them gain weight well because milk is an adequate and balanced source of nutrients, especially calcium and minerals, especially Vitamin D. Only give solid foods to babies from 6 months of age, with a healthy diet. Children's weaning must be adequate and balanced with 4 groups of substances: flour, protein, fat, and vitamins and minerals (fresh vegetables). Increase calcium-rich foods such as milk and dairy products (such as yogurt, cheese...), shrimp, crab, fish (notice that small fish eat bones that are rich in calcium). are food groups that also help supplement zinc. (Zinc is a very important micronutrient in the nutrition of young children, strengthening the child's resistance, helping to reduce the risk of immune-related diseases). For children to eat properly according to the needs of their age, for example, children from 1 to 3 years old in a day, their energy requirement is 110 Kcal/kg will be provided through flour, porridge, crushed rice and need 28 grams of substance. Protein, 30-40 grams of fat, calcium need about 400-500 milligrams/day, need to add 6-7 milligrams of iron/day (equivalent to 100g lean meat, 200g fresh vegetables, 2-3 tablespoons fat, 500ml milk/day). It is very important to ensure that the micronutrients of vitamins A, B1, C, D, iron and zinc are fully met in the daily diet. However, most traditional meals do not meet the needs of children in the developmental stage. Therefore, parents can consider adding alternative products containing many vitamins, minerals, ... to ensure adequate nutrients and for children to develop comprehensively. In addition, parents should carefully study as well as consult a doctor to choose suitable and quality micro-rich functional products for their children.