Only 17.8 percent or about 2 in every 10 children 6 months to 5 years old met the recommended energy intake daily, according to the food consumption survey (FCS) conducted in 2008 by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST).
The survey also revealed that the average one-day total food intake of preschool-age children decreased from 562 grams in 2003 to 492 grams in 2008.
In terms of calorie intake, the trend among preschoolers went down from 980 kilocalories in 2003 to 843 kilocalories in 2008.
The survey further showed that the average one-day intake of preschool-age children in all food groups, except starchy roots and tubers, decreased in the five-year period.
The intake of starchy roots and tubers among preschoolers remained the same from 2003 to 2008.
The FCS is a component of the 7th National Nutrition Survey (NNS) conducted every five years to update the nutritional status and dietary intake of the Filipino population.
Looking at the nutritional status of preschool-age children, the 7th NNS showed that in every 100 children aged 0-5 years old, 26 are underweight, 28 are stunted and 6 are thin.
This proportion translates to about 3.35 million underweight preschool-age children, 3.57 million stunted and 780,000 thin.
Moreover, nutritional anemia is prevalent among 6 months to less than one year-old at 55.7 percent and 20.9 percent for children 1-5 years old.
Also, vitamin A deficiency is prevalent at 15.2 percent among these same age group.
Inadequate food intake and illnesses affect the nutritional status of children.
This period in the life cycle is critical for promoting optimal growth, health and development, thus, adequate quantity and quality of complementary foods must be provided.
Complementary foods should be readily consumed by young children and must provide energy, protein, fat, vitamins and minerals the growing children need. Complementary feeding is defined as giving other foods in addition to breastmilk after exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months.
Combinations of locally-available and commonly-consumed food items like rice, dried beans or legumes, cereals like corn, rootcrops and tubers served with flaked meat or minced or powdered small fishes serve as nutrient-dense meals or snacks for young children.
The government and other concerned agencies must review existing nutrition and health programs for children given the current situation.
Given the current status for 0-5 year-old Filipino children, there is a need of strengthened promotion of breastfeeding and nutritious complementary foods.
Breastfeeding and nutritious complementary foods must be intensified and monitoring of children's growth must be continued.
For more information on food and nutrition, contact: Dr. Mario V. Capanzana, Director, Food and Nutrition Research Institute, Department of Science and Technology, General Santos Avenue, Bicutan, Taguig City; Tel/Fax Num: 8372934 and 8373164; email: mvc@fnri.dost.gov.ph, mar_v_c@yahoo.com; FNRI-DOST website: http://www.fnri.dost.gov.ph. (FNRI-DOST S & T Media Service: Press Release – CHARINA A. JAVIER)
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