The ability to maintain a healthy weight is important to overall health status, particularly in combating diseases and conditions. Those who are overweight or obese may be at greater risk for conditions including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure. Those who are underweight may be at greater risk for malnutrition and stunting. There are a number of factors that may lead to an unhealthy weight including lack of safe places for recreation, work schedules, lack of access to food, emotional wellbeing, and lack of sleep.
Tips for maintaining a healthy weight and lifestyle
Choose a support partner in your journey:
Exercise:
Adequate intake of safe drinking water:
Sleep:
Diet:
It is recommended to eat a wide variety of foods including:
Lack of adequate nutrition
Malnutrition is the lack of adequate nutrition, either as a result of imbalances, deficiencies, or excesses in a person's intake of food and nutrients. This can be due to eating too little, eating an improper diet, or having a medical condition that results in the body being unable to use food and nutrients. Malnutrition can also refer to over nutrition and obesity and is the condition of being poorly nourished.
In cases of undernutrition, children may show slow growth, failure to thrive, developmental delays, behavioral changes (including decreased attention), and muscle wasting. Symptoms of tiredness, fatigue, slow wound healing, and even loss of appetite may occur.
Various forms of malnutrition
There are 4 broad sub-forms of undernutrition: wasting, stunting, underweight, and deficiencies in vitamins and minerals
How to avoid malnutrition
Recommended meal frequency to combat malnutrition
Breastfed infants and young children
1. 6-8 months: 2 times per day
2. 9-23 months: 3 times per day
Non-breastfed infants and young children
1. 6-23 months: 4 times per day
Support for malnutrition
Promotion of best practices for adequate Nutrition
Provision of micronutrients for young children