Session Three

Home

Alex Tang

Publications

Articles

Spiritual writing

Nurturing/ Teaching Courses

Engaging Culture

Spiritual Formation Institute

My Notebook

My blogs

Books Recommendation

Bookstore

---------------------

Medical notes

Medical Students /Paediatric notes

Session Three: Malnourishment in Children

Dr Alex Tang

1. Good Nutrition

a. Food Guide Pyramid

b. MyPyramid Food Guide Pyramid (2005) USDA

i. Grains (orange)

ii. Vegetables (green)

iii. Fruits (red)

iv. Milk (blue)

v. Meat and beans (purple)

vi. Oils

vii. Discretionary calories

viii. Exercise

MyPyramid was released in April 2005. MyPyramid retains all the food groups from the original Pyramid, but it also includes a graphic representation of physical activity—an important additional recommendation for a healthy way of life. The recommendation are in four overarching themes.

(1) Variety.

Eat foods from all food groups and subgroups

(2) Proportionality.

• In the Dietary Guidelines adopting a “balanced eating pattern, such as the USDA food guide* or the DASH eating plan*” is recommended. Additional recommendations encourage consumption of more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low fat milk products than are now consumed by most Americans.

• In MyPyramid the proportionality message is portrayed by the varying thickness of the food group bands. These widths suggest that a person should choose more from the bigger wedges and vice versa. However, these bands do not suggest exact proportions. They are just a general guide for proportions of food one should consume. The actual amounts that are recommended vary by age, sex, and activity level.

(3) Moderation.

• In the Dietary Guidelines, choosing foods that “limit intake of saturated and trans fats”, choosing meat, poultry, beans, and milk products that are “lean, low-fat, or fat-free,” and selecting “foods and beverages with little added sugars” is recommended.

• In MyPyramid, moderation is depicted by the narrowing of the bands from bottom to top. Foods within a food group can vary in the amounts of solid fats and added sugars they contain. The bottom, wider portion of each band represents the foods in the most nutrient dense form—that is, containing little or no solid fats and added sugars. The top, narrow end of each band represents foods within the group with more solid fat and added sugars. For example, an apple would be at the bottom of the fruit band, sweetened applesauce higher in the band, and apple pie towards the top.

(4) Physical Activity.

• In the Dietary Guidelines, regular physical activity is recommended to promote health and mental well-being.

• In MyPyramid, steps up the side of the Pyramid and a person actively climbing the steps are included to represent the advice to engage in regular physical activity. Physical activity is important to every day living and can improve one’s health by reducing the risks for many diseases.

Two additional messages on the MyPyramid graphic are personalization and gradual improvement. These two concepts were included to foster behavioral change among consumers and encourage implementation of the new food guidance system.

• Personalization is depicted by the name “MyPyramid” and by the person climbing the steps. In addition, the web site allows people to find their own personal recommended food intake amounts. Calorie and nutrient needs differ so a personalized food intake pattern based on age/gender and physical activity can be obtained on MyPyramid.gov. MyPyramid.gov allows a person to relate the food guidance to their own lifestyle for improved health.

• Gradual improvement is portrayed by the slogan “steps to the healthier you,” which suggests changes can be made in stages or steps over time. These changes include awareness of what one is actually eating, a reminder to vary food intake and to exercise. No matter how small the step in the right direction, gradual improvement to one’s health can be made.

2. Assessment of nutritional status

a. What is malnutrition?

World Health Organisation (WHO)

“the cellular imbalance between supply of nutrients and energy and the body’s demand for them to ensure growth, maintenance, and specific functions.”

b. Nutritional assessment

i. Anthropometry

1. weight

2. height

3. mid-arm circumference

4. skinfold thickness

ii. Laboratory

1. low plasma albumin

2. low concentration of specific minerals and vitamins

iii. Food Intake

1. dietary recall

2. dietary diary

iv. Immunodeficiency

1. low lymphocyte count

2. impaired cell-mediated immunity

3. Characteristics of malnourished child

a. General

i. Less active

ii. Apathetic

iii. Delayed wound healing

iv. High mortality from illnesses

b. Severe protein-energy malnutrition

i. Marasmus

1. weight less than 60% of mean for age

2. wasted, wizened appearance

3. no edema

4. withdrawn, apathetic

ii. Kwashiorkor

1. body weight is 60-80% of mean

2. generalised edema present

3. thickened skin

4. distended abdomen and enlarged liver

5. angular stomatitis

6. hair-sparse and depigmented

7. diarrhea

8. hypothermia

c. Micronutrient deficiencies

i. Iron-fatigue, anemia, pallor

ii. Iodine-goitre, developmental delay

iii. Vit D-poor growth, rickets, low calcium

4. Ways to overcome malnourishment in children

a. Urgent for severe protein-energy malnutrition

i. Correction of dehydration, electrolyte imbalance and infection

ii. Treatment of hypothermia

iii. Feeding 2 to 4 hourly

b. General measures

i. Dietary

1. Three meals and two snacks each day

2. increase number and variety of food offered

3. increase energy density of usual food (add cheese, margarine, cream etc)

ii. Behavioural

1. have regular meal as a family

2. praise when food is eaten

3. gently encourage child to eat but avoid conflict

4. never force-feed

5. Obesity

a. BMI = weight in kg/height in metre²

i. BMI >95^th percentile predicts a persistence of obesity into adulthood and abnormalities in blood lipids

ii. BMI >91^st percentile is overweight.

b. Complications

i. Bow legs, abnormal foot structure

ii. Hypoventilation syndrome (daytime somnolence, sleep apnea, snoring, hypercapnia, heart failure)

iii. Gall bladder disease

iv. Diabetes mellitus

v. Hypertension

vi. Abnormal blood lipids

vii. Low self esteem

viii. Body dissatisfaction

c. Treatment

i. Weight maintenance

ii. Healthier eating

iii. Increase in habitual physical activity to 30-60 minutes of moderate or vigorous physical activity per day

iv. Reduction in physical inactivity (watching tv, etc) to less than average of 2 hours per day.

6. Reflection

Home|Session One|Session Two|Session Three|Session Four

"treat, heal, and comfort always"

"spiritual forming disciples of Jesus Christ with informed minds, hearts on fire and contemplative in actions"

Website

Articles

Spiritual Writings

Nurture/ Courses

Engaging Culture

Medical Interests

Social

Except where otherwise noted, content on this site is
licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License