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Strategies for Encouraging a Healthy Weight Gain in Children

Children's Weight Gain Struggles: A Hidden Concern

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3 min read
Struggling to find advice on helping children gain weight is surprisingly common, despite frequent...
Struggling to find advice on helping children gain weight is surprisingly common, despite frequent discussions about child obesity. In India, it's alarming to note that almost 36% of children under the age of five are underweight, and 38% are stunted, while 2% are categorized as having low weight-for-height.

Strategies for Encouraging a Healthy Weight Gain in Children

India struggles with childhood underweight issues, with 36% of children under five years old being underweight, 38% being stunted, and 21% suffering from eating disorders. In an effort to combat this issue, parents are seeking advice on how to help children gain weight.

WhatsApp offers a helpful resource for addressing common concerns related to speech delay, low weight, frequent illness, hyperactivity, low concentration, weak eyesight, improper sleep, pigmentation, pores, face marks, fine lines, lactation, and more. Parents can chat with experts in these areas and receive personalized advice.

To help children gain weight, parents are encouraged to engage their children in physical activities like swimming, cycling, and running, as these can increase appetite. A balanced, nutritious diet is essential, with an emphasis on foods that are nutrient-rich, energy-dense, and high in protein and carbohydrates. Fruits and vegetables, such as bananas, avocados, and sweet potatoes, can be good sources of additional calories.

Smaller, more frequent meals are recommended instead of three larger meals. This can help children take in more calories throughout the day. Skipping meals should be avoided, and children should be encouraged to eat something instead of skipping meals.

Processed foods should be limited as they often contain added sugar, unhealthy fats, and lose their original nutrients during manufacturing. Instead, parents should aim to provide wholesome, home-cooked meals.

A new product, Kids & Teens Daily Nutrition Chocolate Spread, has recently been introduced to the market. It provides a source of vitamin D, vitamin B12, and calcium, and supports bone health, height, immunity, and brain development. It is made without refined sugar, palm oil, or preservatives, and can be consumed directly or added to foods like bread, cake, and cereal. A vegetable and dal powder, also from the same company, offers protein, fiber, calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin B12, and is suitable for both kids and adults. It can be mixed into various dishes like atta/flour, purees, and khichdi.

Parents should be aware of the nutritional needs of their children, as signs of iron, calcium, and vitamin deficiencies can delay growth milestones and have negative effects on a child's health. The Daily Nutrition Veggies and Dal powder is a convenient way to ensure that children are receiving the necessary nutrients for growth and development.

The chocolate spread and vegetable and dal powder are available for purchase on the company's website, and more information, including customer reviews, can be found there. Orders are fulfilled by courier service.

References:[1] "Healthy Diet for Children: Tasty Foods to Boost Immune System and Brain Development," WebMD, [https://www.webmd.com/parenting/features/healthy-diet-children#1].

[2] "Childhood Nutrition: Helping Your Child Get the Nutrients They Need," KidsHealth, [https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/kids-diet.html].

[3] "Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF) for Treatment of Severe Acute Malnutrition," UNICEF, [https://www.unicef.org/nutrition/files/RUTF.pdf].

[4] "Weight Gain: Helping Your Child Put on Healthy Weight," Helping Children Succeed, [https://helpingchildrensucceed.org/weight-gain-helping-children-put-on-healthy-weight/].

[5] "Strategies for Weight Gain in Preschool Children with Failure to Thrive," Journal of Pediatric Health Care, [https://www.jpeds.com/article/S1047-4863(02)00096-8/fulltext].

  1. Encouraging a balanced diet rich in nutrient-dense, energy-dense foods like fruits and vegetables can support health-and-wellness and aide in weight-management for children, helping to combat issues like underweight and malnutrition.
  2. Achieving brain development and growth and development in children requires adequate nutrition, as signs of deficiencies in nutrients such as iron, calcium, and vitamins can impact a child's health and delay growth milestones.
  3. Science and the findings of organizations like UNICEF and Helping Children Succeed emphasize the importance of addressing childhood undernutrition, and the role of a nutritious diet and regular physical activities in weight gain for children, contributing to their overall health and well-being.

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