Malnutrition: a growing concern among Filipino school children

(The Philippine Star) | Updated December 11, 2012 - 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines - The word malnutrition is generally associated with frail, skinny, and
hunger-stricken bodies. However, health experts time and again point out that this is not
necessarily the case. In fact, a person may appear outwardly normal and fit but is actually
malnourished.
Part of understanding malnutrition is to know that it manifests itself in two types, namely
undernutrition and overnutrition.
Undernutrition occurs when insufficient nutrients are absorbed by the body. These nutrients
can be carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, and minerals. Children suffering from
undernutrition miss out on the vital nutrients that are needed not only to grow but also to build
up immunity against diseases.
In its latest study, the Food and
Nutrition
Research
Institute
(FNRI) revealed that almost one
in every three Filipino children
aged six to 10 is underweight and
underheight or stunted for their
age. The prevalence was highest
among those nine to 10 years old,
all
as
a
result
of
undernourishment.
Overnutrition, meanwhile, is the
condition in which nutrients are oversupplied in a way more than the body is capable of
absorbing. It could result either in obesity or imbalances in specific nutrients caused by
excessive intake of dietary supplements or various fad diets.
Eight out of a hundred schoolchildren, aged five to 10, are overweight, based on the same
FNRI data. In 2011, the percentage of overweight children in this same group jumped to 7.5
percent from 6.6 percent in 2008.
Lifestyle Feature ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch:
To combat these forms of malnutrition, a balanced diet that includes plenty of vegetables must
be given to children especially in their growing-up years. Many nutritious and affordable
vegetables can be prepared within the limits of ones budget.

Regular intake of fortified milk is also among the most viable ways of helping address
malnutrition, particularly undernutrition. Fortified milk, like Bear Brand Powdered Milk
Drink, has been added with more vitamins and minerals than regular milk, offering a nutritious
way for kids to get the benefits of the Tibay Resistensya nutrients iron, zinc, and vitamin C.
Jasmin Estacio, consumer marketing manager for Bear Brand Powdered Milk Drink, points
out that the products affordable price also makes it easier for kids as well as adults to start the
healthy milk-drinking habit at home.
Being the main parent who prepares the dishes, mothers have the crucial role to play in
providing the right food on the table for the whole family, says Estacio. They are also in the
best position to promote the importance of drinking fortified milk every day, and Bear Brand
Powdered Milk Drink is here to support their nutritional requirements every step of the way.

REFLECTION
Malnutrition has been one of the major health problems in our country for years now, and
it still continues to be one especially to the youngest segment of our population. Malnutrition
affects the daily performance of a child which also affects the study habits of the children. When
a child comes to school hungry, that child could not focus on the lessons that their teacher is
discussing for that day. The difficulty to learn makes a child uninterested to come to school
anymore. Poverty is one of the main reasons why a lot of Filipino children suffer from
malnutrition. Because of poverty, parents focus on giving anything that can be called food to
their children without considering its nutrients. Prevention of Malnutrition should start from
oneself and then the family. Children should be taught to eat health foods and to exercise
regularly to avoid malnutrition and therefore lessen the number of children suffering from
Malnutrition. Proper emphasis to this problem should be given in order to ensure a healthy life
for individuals.
People suffering from poverty are more likely to have malnourished children. Lack of
money means lack of nutritious food. Because of this, most children from poor families are
forced to work at a young age instead of going to school in order to have food to fill their
starving stomachs. Starvation also causes the death of some. Having 3 meals a day is considered
a luxury for these people. In some cases, these people scavenge food from garbage cans, in hopes
of finding something edible. The food they got could be edible but that doesnt mean that it is
safe to eat. As a result, some children even get diseases from the food they get from trash.
Malnutrition is a serious national problem that should be taken care of as soon as possible. The
famous saying goes, the children are the hope of our future. The young ones should always be
taken care of in order to grow as citizens with a healthy state of body and mind. And so as a
future teacher and as an agent of the society in promoting good nutrition, I will make sure that
my pupils receives a right nutrition and also I will educate the parents on what food should they
prepare to their children. As for those who are suffering on poverty, I will try my best to search
for sponsors and conduct a feeding program for them.

A
Reflecti
on on:
Articles
and
Issues
about
Childre
n in the
Philippi
nes and
around
PHOEBE RUTH S. GABRIEL
the
BEED IV-D PSED
globe.
Submitted by:

Submitted to:

PROF. ROSELIA BOROMMEO

MALN