Growth retardation is not just about “late growth”
Many parents think that their children's short stature is "late growth" and they will catch up in adolescence.
However, the "Food and Nutrition Guidelines for Children and Adolescents with Growth Retardation (2023 Edition)" issued by the National Health Commission clearly states that growth retardation is classified as long-term malnutrition. Simply put, it means a long-term failure to consume sufficient amounts of protein, energy or certain vitamins and minerals.
According to the data in the "Report on Nutrition and Chronic Disease Status of Chinese Residents (2020)", the growth retardation rate of children under 6 years old is 4.8%, and the growth retardation rate of children aged 6 to 17 is 1.7%. This data in rural areas is about 2 to 3 times that in urban areas.
Behind this gap, it is often related to the single diet structure and limited choice of ingredients.
Growth retardation not only affects height, but also affects physical fitness, affects academic performance, and even increases the risk of chronic diseases in adulthood.
Therefore, don't always use "late growth" as an excuse. You should carefully examine whether the food your children eat every day is eating correctly.
Measuring your height regularly is more important than blindly taking nutritional supplements
Many parents love to buy various height-increasing products, but ignore the most basic Physical monitoring .
The guide repeatedly emphasizes that the child's height needs to be measured regularly, and the child's weight must also be measured regularly. The most appropriate thing is to continue tracking for six months to twelve months, and then draw a growth curve.
If the curve keeps falling down or grows very slowly, then you need to find the reason.
It is unreliable to judge "it seems to have grown a little" just by feeling.
It is also necessary to know the details of the child's diet, whether he or she has eaten breakfast, whether he or she is picky about food, and whether the child is mostly full with snacks.
According to the recommendations given in the guide, a personalized feeding plan should be developed based on the specific situation of each child, rather than forcing children to overeat.
If the improvement is not obvious over a long period of time, or if growth retardation is suspected to be caused by a disease, then you must go to the hospital for a checkup, and do not take random medications or take health care products.
Food and nutrition guidance cannot replace drug treatment, this should be kept in mind.
Exercise, sleep and eating are the "iron triangle"
Just adjusting what you eat is not enough; regular exercise and Get enough sleep Equally critical.
Some guidelines point out that appropriate physical activity can enhance appetite, further promote gastrointestinal motility, and can also stimulate bone and muscle growth.
Letting your children run, jump, play with a ball, and skip a rope every day is much better than sitting still.
This aspect of sleep is easily overlooked. "If the stomach is not harmonious, sleep will be restless." That is to say, poor digestion will affect the quality of sleep, and growth hormone is mainly secreted during deep sleep at night.
If your child tosses and turns at night or stays up late, his or her height will naturally be affected.
To help children develop a fixed bedtime, it is best for school-age children to go to bed before 9:30 every night.
Grasping these three things is much more effective than buying a bunch of health products.
This combination of three meals a day is nutritious
The core of nourishment is Comprehensive, balanced and diverse .
The advice given in the manual is that every meal should cover at least three types of cereals and potatoes, vegetables and fruits, livestock, poultry, fish and eggs, milk and soybeans. This is it.
For example, you can have corn porridge with eggs and half an apple in the morning; rice with stir-fried broccoli and diced mushrooms and chicken at noon; and multigrain steamed buns with tomato tofu soup and a small amount of shrimp at night.
Pay attention to the same type of food, and you have to exchange it with each other from time to time. For example, if you eat rice today, you will change it to sweet potatoes tomorrow, if you eat pork today, you will change it to fish tomorrow, to prevent your children from getting bored.
It can be flexibly adjusted according to different seasons and regions. For example, in the north, you should reserve more dark vegetables in winter, while in the south, you can drink some mung bean soup in summer.
If a child has a picky eating habit, do not force it. You can try changing the cooking method, or you can try hiding ingredients in the child's favorite dishes.
How to use food and drug substances safely
The guide mentions food substances, such as malt, hawthorn, and lotus seeds, as well as gorgon seeds, yam, etc. These are all ingredients that are "both food and medicine" announced by the National Health Commission.
But be careful, don’t just grab a handful and cook it for your children to drink.
In response to the child's specific situation, such as poor appetite, unformed stools, and restless sleep, make a choice based on the advice of a physician or nutritional counselor.
For example, boil water with hawthorn and malt to help appetite and eliminate stagnation, and boil porridge with yam and lotus seeds to strengthen the spleen.
What needs to be especially reminded is that edible pharmaceutical substances are not drugs, and they cannot be used to "treat" growth retardation. They can only be used as an auxiliary means of a reasonable diet.
And the dosage should be controlled, don’t eat large amounts for a long time.
If your child is sick or has a special constitution, you should consult a professional first.
Developing good habits is more important than temporary surprises
In other words, improving growth retardation is not something that can be achieved in a month or two, but requires long-term and continuous maintenance of healthy eating habits.
The recipes and nutritional formulas given in the guide are only for reference, and the actual implementation depends on the parents' patient preparation every day.
Don't expect your child to grow taller all at once. Growth is a slow process and time frame. It must last for 6 months, or even longer, before you can see changes.
In normal times, we should encourage children to eat on their own instead of chasing after them all the time. For snacks, try to choose yogurt, fruits and nuts, and give less sugary drinks and puffed foods.
In addition, family atmosphere is also important. Don't criticize your children while eating. The relaxed and happy mood is conducive to digestion and absorption.
If parents themselves are picky eaters, their children will easily imitate them, so adults should set an example.
Starting today, post the growth curve chart on the wall and record the combination of three meals. If you look back after three months, there will definitely be changes.
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