Children who are undernourished often exhibit stunted or delayed physiological and psychological development. Research has shown that children living in non-industrialized parts of the world often experience substandard physical growth and development as a result of inadequate dietary intake and malnourishment during their early years. Factors contributing to malnutrition are diverse and often interrelated. These include familial and socioeconomic status, environmental and dietary factors, lack of healthcare, poor sanitary and hygienic conditions, and the lack of knowledge of dietary requirements necessary for normal growth and development. Prevention and treatment of childhood undernutrition is an urgent requirement in order to reduce child morbidity and mortality, promote healthy child development, and improve life. On the physiological side, the brain, dependent on an adequate and balanced nutrient intake like other organs, requires special attention. Regarding early childhood education, it is argued that unless adequate physical and general health are addressed, and problems are appropriately considered and treated, the child's intellectual and emotional deep growth processes as well as biological growth and motor skills development will suffer to a lesser or greater degree, resulting in a non-prepared child not ready for school. Furthermore, concerning educational improvement, matched, improved expenditures on the health and nutritional status of children combined with educational measures are considered of prime importance. In addition, children should be taught the principles of inexpensive and hygienic care of their persons and surroundings so that they can influence their personal growth and protect it against unhealthy influences. Encouraging adolescents to develop attitudes and habits that favor health has persuasive force and can help to bind their communities and societies.
2.1. Physical Development
One of the key aspects of overall development is the physical development of individuals. Proper nutrition in infants and children is crucial for the physical and cognitive development of the child, which in turn has a direct effect on the country's human capital, essential for economic growth of a country. It is necessary to provide safe, nutritious, and adequate food for infants during the period of growth to ensure they reach their full potential. As stated in the World Declaration on Nutrition, adequate nutrition in the early years contributes to the full development of individuals, prevents untold suffering, and has the potential to secure a better future for each and every one of us. The early years of a child are fundamental to their overall development, and the nutrition during this period plays a key role in shaping the future health and well-being of a child. The development of the brain begins in utero but continues through infancy and early childhood, which is why providing adequate nutrition to infants is crucial. The brain's total weight reaches approximately 80% of its adult weight by the age of approximately 24 months. During the time of rapid brain growth, brain development may be hampered if infants do not have proper nutrition. High cognitive achievement skills can be achieved in children with an omnivorous diet, but the most significant advantages are present in children who maintain adequate nutrient levels in their bodies.
2.2. Cognitive Development
Poorly nourished children often have inadequate physical development, limited cognitive functions, and poor school achievements. During the first two years of life, undernutrition has severe and permanent adverse effects on the development of the brain and the cognitive and motor capacities of children. The decrease in energy levels associated with undernutrition may constitute certain physical and social activity limits. Cognitive impairment is also present during episodes involving a deficit in the availability of food, specifically the lack of minerals, vitamins, and essential fatty acids. Inadequate children have limited attention span and effects in intellectual performance and capacity, verbal ability, development, and general knowledge. The provision of adequate nutrition and education to children and as adults, including the necessity of increasing the intake of specific nutrients, would offer tremendous benefits for individual development and well-being. Three essential points are the significant growth of relationships between the average cognitive achievement of the developing children and the overall educational conditions. First, it increasingly shows that the physical and mental capacities of adults depend on the interweaving, but also the reinforcement, of the interactions over time of genetic, biological, psycho-cognitive, and social environment inputs throughout their lives. Secondl
Order this paper