Summary of Factors Influencing Healthy Growth

摘要

The third session considered factors around the complementary feeding stage that influence healthy growth and development with an emphasis on the prevention of obesity and the establishment of healthy eating habits. While this has long been considered to be an issue predominantly for western settings, obesity is becoming a global problem that often begins in childhood, and many developing settings pose the challenge of setting food policies that consider the double burden of coprevalent under- and overnutrition. In this context, it was welcome to hear how the same principles of food responsiveness may be applicable to the management of both poor infant feeding and to rapid infant weight gain, too. However, considering the health relevance of the infant growth rate, it is essential to have a clear understanding of the population context in terms of the prevalence of childhood underweight/stunting and overweight.