Many kids from well-to-do urban families are undernourished: Experts

Nagpur: Contrary to common belief that children from rural, tribal and hilly regions are more prone to malnutrition as compared to those living in urban areas, many children from cities are also showing signs of undernourishment these days.
According to paediatricians and nutrition experts from the city, kids from many well-to-do families in cities are facing nutrition related problems due to lack of awareness about nutrition, multiple food choices, misconceptions about eating habits, and less involvement of family-members in developing eating habits.
“We are coming across many cases these days in which kids from good family background are complaining of disorders due to nutritional deficiencies. It’s not that parents don’t feed them, but they don’t get proper nutrition from the food,” said Dr Ravindra Bhelonde, president of Academy of Paediatrics (AOP), Nagpur.
Kids aged 1 to 5 years who are addicted to mobile phones, TVs and other electronic gadgets don’t get enough nutrition even if they eat more as their focus is more on gadgets and not on food.
“Discouraging kids from mobile addiction is the first step towards taking them towards nourishment. AOP selected ‘Switch off the screen, Switch on the possibilities’ as theme of AOP this year with the same motive,” Dr Bhelonde said.
“Kids born with birthweight less than 2,500gm need special supplements to maintain their nutritional health up to 5 years of age. Iron deficiency is very common in Vidarbha. However, reasons of malnutrition in urban regions are different,” said paediatrician Dr Kanchan Chaudhary.
According to doctors, it’s difficult for working parents in cities to take out time which is necessary to develop food habits in kids.
“For growth and achieving appropriate growth milestones, infants require breast milk as well as energy rich foods. Eating with family members is the most important step in developing food habits. But these days kids are fed while watching television or mobile phones,” said nutritionist Dr Rani Bhutada.
“Ideally, a 1-year old child should eat with family and have everything prepared in the kitchen. In cities, mothers give only one or two types of mixed food to kids every time. Their focus remains on quantity of food the child eats. But more eating is not being healthy,” she said.