engleski

State of nourishment of school-aged children

Undernourishment as well as overweight/obesity among children represent significant threat to public health, and will continue to shape demographic and health picture of the world. Malnutrition is a collective name for several conditions related to nourishment, stunted growth (i.e. low height-for age), wasting (or thinness, i.e. low weight-for-height), and overweight. Global malnutrition statistics for children are far from promising. In 2015, 248 million children in the world were affected by some form of malnutrition. Despite so many preventive actions we failed to do more for our children. In September 2016 the United Nations proclaimed 2016-2025 the United Nations Decade of Action on Nutrition with the main aim to strengthen national commitments to end malnutrition in all its forms. Currently, the rates of undernourished children (stunted and wasted) are dropping, while overweight/obesity continues to rise. The first occurs mainly due to food deprivation, the latter due to food excess. But let's not oversimplify their causes and risk factors. Very different in their risk factors, but with one thing in common ; social inequality. Childhood poverty has the most severe consequences by far. It affects child’s nutritional and overall health status, and if prolonged affects health in adulthood, reduces quality of life and reduces life expectancy. In Croatia in primary schools 10.41 % boys and 9.43 % girls are obese, in high-schools 10.46 % boys and 10.78 % girls, and on universities 9.14 % boys and 6.42 % girls. The results of our project showed that in the city area of Osijek around 20 % of families are at risk of poverty, and low income was proven as an independent significant risk factor that increases the risk of child's obesity. In utero effect, i.e. birth weight along with both parents' body mass index are also confirmed to significantly affect child's state of nourishment. Interestingly, mothers predispose their children for underweight, while fathers for obesity. Childhood is characterized with fast physical, emotional and social changes, during which children establish their own personal dietary and lifestyle habits, and form attitudes towards health. This is the period when they foster all the good and all the bad. At this stage of life they are so open-minded, curious and willing to learn and we have to use hat in order to model them. The obligation is solely on us, to shape or children at their best, in every way.

children ; malnutrition ; state of nourishment ; risk factors

Plenary lecture included data for Osijek, from the bilateral scientific-research project between Croatia and Montenegro for 2015-2016 entitled "Comparative study on the impact of poverty on underweight and obesity, and dietary and lifestyle habits among schoolchildren in the cities of Podgorica and Osijek"