Tag: Early childhood

Research indicates that a child's food preferences begin to develop even before birth, shaped by the mother's diet during pregnancy. These foundational experiences in the womb continue through infancy and early childhood, laying the groundwork for lifelong eating habits and influencing what a child will accept or reject at the family table.

According to the World Health Organization, childhood malnutrition is a global problem, with 149 million children stunted and 45 million wasted. Chronic hunger can cause devastating and often irreversible effects on a child's neurological, cognitive, and emotional well-being, raising a crucial question: how does hunger affect brain development?

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, the human brain grows most rapidly during the first two years of life. This critical period prompts a vital question: **Is a healthy diet the most important factor in brain development?** The answer is more nuanced than a simple yes or no, involving a complex interplay of environmental, social, and genetic factors.

Worldwide, approximately 149 million children under five were estimated to be stunted in 2022, highlighting the global scale of the issue. Understanding **what age is malnutrition most common** is crucial for identifying the most vulnerable populations and implementing targeted nutrition strategies to prevent severe and lasting developmental damage.

Globally, an estimated 149 million children under five were stunted in 2022 due to chronic undernutrition. This alarming statistic confirms that, unequivocally, **can malnutrition stunt height growth**, making it a critical public health issue impacting physical and cognitive development worldwide.

A prospective longitudinal study in Mauritius revealed that children with just three indicators of malnutrition at age three experienced a significant 15.3-point deficit in IQ by age eleven, independent of social factors. This and other robust research demonstrates a clear and often irreversible answer to the question: does malnutrition cause low IQ? This article explores the biological mechanisms, key nutritional deficiencies, and lasting impacts of inadequate nutrition on cognitive development.