Nutrition status and improvement strategies in Chinese school age children

Abstract

School age is critical period for children growth and behavior development. With the improvement of nutrition and health status in Chinese school-age children, they also faced multiple challenges, such as the increase of overweight and obesity, the prevalence of undernutrition and micronutrients deficiency. This is related to the irrational diet, lack of physical activity and unhealthy lifestyle, and also affected by the change of social environment. China has issued a series of nutrition and health related policies to promote healthy development of school-age children, either on poor rural children nutrition improvement, or on children obesity prevention and control. International organizations suggest that governments adopt comprehensive strategies to promote children’s health by management on the food environment. It is suggested that China should strengthen the construction of laws and regulations, implement nutrition education and dietary guidance, strengthen the responsibility of parents, and evaluate the efficiency of policies, so as to improve the child nutrition and health.

Abstract

【摘要】 学龄儿童处于生长发育和行为培养的关键时期。中国学龄儿童在营养健康状况逐步改善的同时, 也面临超重肥 胖迅速增加、营养不足依然存在、微量营养素摄人不足的多重挑战。不仅与膳食结构不合理、身体活动不足及行为生活方 式不健康密切相关, 也受到社会生活环境的影响。中国各部门陆续出台了一系列营养健康相关政策和行动, 从贫困农村儿 童营养改善、儿童肥胖防控等多方面采取综合措施促进学龄儿童健康成长。国际组织也建议各国政府采取综合策略和措 施, 从改善食物环境人手, 保障儿童健康。建议加强法规建设, 落实营养宣传教育和膳食指导, 强化家长责任, 及时开展政 策的监测评估, 整体推进儿童营养健康改善。