Abbott’s Growth Watch Empowers Parents to BeatChildhood Stunting

Abbott’s Growth Watch Empowers Parents to BeatChildhood Stunting

Lifestyleplusph
  • Childhood stunting is a health issue in the Philippines, and 2 in 3 moms are unaware of the long-term effects of stunting on childhood growth
  • The Growth Watch initiative aims to accelerate efforts to help parents identify children’s growth issues early, seek treatment, and prevent malnutrition
  • Abbott is banding with communities to raise awareness and offer online tools, educational resources, nutrition assessment, and counseling to promote childhood growth

MANILA, Philippines, 6 December 2023 — Global statistics show childhood malnutrition is still a persistent health burden, including in the Philippines. According to the Department of Health, 1 in 4 children aged five and below are short for their age or stunted. Abbott is increasing awareness and working with mom celebrities and communities to tackle stunting among children in the Philippines.

Abbott’s Growth Watch initiative highlights childhood stunting, a form of malnutrition. It aims to empower parents to screen for and recognize stunting in their children so that they can improve their children’s nutrition if needed.

Stunting can challenge a child’s development, impact their overall health, and limit their future potential. Children affected by stunting can be at risk of significant immune deficiencies, compromised cognitive function, behavioral problems, diminished bone health, and decreased muscle mass. The Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition 2023-2028 identified poor feeding practices and low nutrition literacy among the causes of malnutrition in the country. Additionally, 2 in 3 Filipino moms don’t recognize stunting as an important child development issue.

“There is a clear need to educate parents on the prevalence and impact of childhood stunting on growth and development,” explains Dr. Jose Dimaano Jr., nutrition medical affairs director for Abbott in Pacific Asia. “Early identification of growth issues and quick intervention for children at risk of nutrition deficiency can have a profound impact on the fight against stunting. This is why Abbott is taking a multidisciplinary approach in supporting parents by working with communities and healthcare practitioners to provide tools and information to spot the signs of malnutrition and take action.”

“There is a clear need to educate parents on the prevalence and impact of childhood stunting on growth and development,” explains Dr. Jose Dimaano Jr., nutrition medical affairs director for Abbott in Pacific Asia. “Early identification of growth issues and quick intervention for children at risk of nutrition deficiency can have a profound impact on the fight against stunting. This is why Abbott is taking a multidisciplinary approach in supporting parents by working with communities and healthcare practitioners to provide tools and information to spot the signs of malnutrition and take action.”

In 2021, Abbott launched the Abbott Center for Malnutrition Solutions, an initiative to reduce malnutrition. The center, a collaboration between Abbott and external experts and partners, is focused on the identification, treatment and, prevention of malnutrition for the most vulnerable populations in the world including children, aging adults and, under-resourced populations. The Growth Watch initiative also contributes toward Abbott’s 2030 Sustainability Plan goal to transform care for malnutrition, and chronic and infectious diseases.

As part of the Growth Watch initiative, parents and guardians are invited to join mom communities to establish the habit of measuring their children’s height and provide proper nutrition to safeguard the growth, well-being and, development of children across the country. Tools and resources available include:

Nutrition plays a crucial role in addressing malnutrition and stunting challenges. Addressing undernutrition early can help mitigate growth issues and ensure children reach their full developmental capacity. For children who do not get enough nutrients through food alone, nutrition supplements, such as PediaSure Plus, can help fill some of the gaps. The oral nutritional supplement, recommended by doctors, is formulated with 37 key growth nutrients including natural vitamin K2 and arginine to support 1.5 times faster growth in 8 weeks and strong bones.6

For more information on the growth tools and resources, visit https://www.family.abbott/ph-en/pediasure/tools-and-resources.html.

For free growth assessment and nutrition counseling, register online or by calling Abbott’s

Careline – Metro Manila: (02) 8995-1555 and PLDT toll-free hotline: 1-800-10-995-1555.

References:
  1. United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), World Health Organization (WHO), International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/The World Bank. Levels and trends in child malnutrition: UNICEF / WHO / World Bank Group Joint Child Malnutrition Estimates: Key findings of the 2023 edition. New York: UNICEF and WHO; 2023.
  2. Montemayor, M. T. (n.d.). 1 of 4 kids under 5 years old stunted: DOH. Philippine News Agency. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1209158.
  3. Victora CG, et al. The Lancet. 2008;371:340-357.
  4. UNICEF-WHO-World Bank Group joint child malnutrition estimates. Levels and trends in child malnutrition. 2015.
  5. Mehta NM, et al. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 2013;37:460-481.
  6. Prado EL, Dewey KG. Nutrition reviews. 2014;72:267-284.
  7. Philippine Plan Of Action For Nutrition 2023-2028.
  8. Smart Parenting Mom Village Survey (2021).
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