Childhood Nutrition: Key to Preventing Long-Term Health Issues in Girls

• India faces a rising burden of health conditions in women, including anaemia, PCOS, diabetes, obesity, thyroid disorders, and poor bone health, often rooted in childhood nutrition.
• Dr. Sajili Mehta highlights the first 10-12 years as critical for a girl's development, where poor nutrition can have lasting consequences.
• Lack of essential nutrients like iron, protein, calcium, and vitamins leads to growth retardation, weakened immunity, and endocrine imbalances, with iron-deficiency anaemia being a major concern.
• Increased consumption of ultra-processed foods contributes to childhood obesity, insulin resistance, PCOS, and type 2 diabetes.
• Low calcium and vitamin D intake, coupled with sedentary lifestyles, increases the risk of osteoporosis and poor bone health in adulthood.

Why It Matters: Prioritizing wholesome childhood nutrition is crucial for preventing chronic health issues in girls later in life.