Nutrition and Malnutrition

Before you can understand how nutrition/malnutrition impacts the development of a child, you must first understand nutrition and malnutrition. Nutrition refers to the consumption of materials necessary to support a healthy life. Malnutrition is the condition that comes from the lack of nutrients in diet, too high of an intake or the wrong proportions are being consumed. Both nutrition and malnutrition play a huge role in the development of children. Proper nutrition provides children with the energy and nutrients needed to meet their physical and mental potential. The lack of nutrients present in a child’s diet is damaging because their bodies are constantly changing, going through different stages of development.

Whether we realize it or not, a child’s diet affects them on a daily basis. Students that get the proper nutrients and the proper amount are providing their bodies with the fuel needed to grow their minds and body. Children with a healthy diet tend to be more focused and have a longer attention span. Children that are malnourished experience fatigue, low energy, and are more perceptible to infection and sickness.

Malnutrition in Central America

Malnutrition has never been a huge problem in Central America until now. Recently, chronic malnutrition has been as prevalent in Central America as it is in Africa and South Asia. In Guatemala, half of all children under five years are chronically malnourished.  In El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua, one out of every three children under five years is affected.  There has been no improvement in reducing malnutrition in these four countries for over a decade. Malnutrition in these countries is a direct reflection of increased poverty and has a negative effect on the economic growth. Children that live in poor and rural areas suffer more from malnutrition.

Reference:

Pitts, N.(2012) Central America. Malnutrition and Poverty threaten to the region yet. Retrieved from http://www.jpic-jp.org/71-en.html