November 26, 2023, 6:33 am | Read time: 5 minutes
How tall we grow is determined by our genes–but only partially. A global study analyzing data from 65 million adolescents has now revealed: Poor nutrition stunts children’s growth. This article explains which foods are particularly involved and why schools contribute to this problem.
The importance of a healthy diet from early childhood is once again underscored by an international study: Researchers at Imperial College London collected and examined data on the height, weight, and development of 65 million children from 193 countries over 35 years.1 What stood out: In countries where living standards have significantly improved since 1985, children’s growth has also increased significantly. This means that by age 19, they have reached an average height greater than that of their parents and grandparents. The researchers conclude, among other things, that with better nutrient supply, the body can allocate more energy for growth. This is to a greater extent than previously assumed: Poor childhood nutrition could have contributed to a height difference of 20 centimeters in nations with the tallest and shortest people.
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Overview
Children are tallest in the Netherlands
A 19-year-old Dutch male is on average 1.83 meters tall, and a female of the same age is 1.69 meters tall, placing them at the top of the global height ranking. A young man of the same age from East Timor (Asia) is on average 1.60 meters tall, and a young woman from Guatemala is 1.50 meters, placing them at the bottom. However, researchers also discovered remarkable trends in between. While people of Asian descent are genetically predisposed to be shorter than Northern Europeans, other factors seem to play a role. For example, 19-year-old boys in China are now eight centimeters taller than in 1985. This phenomenon is linked to changes in diet, although it is accompanied by an unhealthy increase in BMI (Body Mass Index). Children need not only sufficient calories but also a nutrient-rich diet to reach their full growth potential.
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Growth slows due to poor nutrition–British children fall behind
However, the trend can also go in the opposite direction, as the study further reveals. While growth continues to increase in most industrialized nations, British children are falling further behind in the global ranking. In 1985, British boys ranked 28th in terms of height. By 2019, they had fallen to 39th place. British girls now rank only 42nd. In comparison, German boys rank 19th and girls 25th in the global height ranking.
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Malnutrition often begins during school years
Another finding of the researchers: Most children are within a healthy range for height and weight up to the age of five. This often changes drastically during the first school years. “We observe that many children grow more slowly and gain weight when they start school,” the study states. The scientists suspect a connection with the poor quality of school meals, which in the UK are repeatedly criticized for being too fatty, sugary, and nutrient-poor.
Not surprising when you look at an analysis published in the journal “Nutrients.”2 Scientists examined the composition of lunches consumed by more than 3,300 elementary and secondary school children. Overall, highly processed foods accounted for 82 percent of the calories in lunchboxes and 64 percent in school meals. According to the analysis, children also consumed more highly processed foods when transitioning from elementary to secondary school. As a result, the calorie content provided by the foods increased from 61 to 77 percent. This is partly because more fast food and pudding were served in secondary schools compared to elementary schools.
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What is the state of school meals in Germany?
According to a report by the Robert Koch Institute, 43 percent of children and adolescents take advantage of the school lunch offerings.3
To provide students with a balanced diet, the German Nutrition Society (DGE) has issued the “DGE Quality Standard for School Meals.” This serves as a guideline for kitchens and cafeterias in communal catering.4 And that’s the crux: This standard is not mandatory. According to the RKI, 27 percent of the school principals surveyed stated that the DGE Quality Standard for School Meals is implemented at their school. In contrast, a significant 41 percent of schools allow students to purchase sugary soft drinks.
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How does the veggie trend affect the growth of children and adolescents?
As part of the VeChi-Youth study, 401 children and adolescents aged 6 to under 19 years in Germany were examined.5 They followed vegetarian, vegan, or omnivorous diets. The study concludes that each of these diets can lead to age-appropriate growth. However, protein intake should be increased for vegan and vegetarian adolescents, as plant-based protein sources are of lower quality. On the advice of pediatricians, toddlers should not be fed a vegan diet (FITBOOK reported).
Access to healthy nutrition must be ensured from early childhood
A conclusion of the international study is therefore: It must be ensured that children are provided with high-quality foods throughout their growth phase. This is also a task for policymakers, demands study leader Dr. Andrea Rodriguez. “The availability of nutritious foods must be increased and their costs reduced,” she says. In addition to growth disorders, she also sees a significant risk in the ever-increasing BMI of children. Because being overweight can lead to many other health problems. What is neglected in early childhood is often irreparable.
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