A recent survey conducted by the National Institute for Nutritionshows that the average height of Vietnamese men aged between 22-26 is1.642m (a survey by the Ministry of Health is 1.644m), and 1.534m forwomen in the same age group.
Despite economicgrowth lurching forward in the last decade, the average height ofVietnamese people has increased by only 4cm. Compared with the samegroups in the Republic of Korea, Japan, Thailand, China and others inSouth East Asia, the Vietnamese are considered the shortest.
Professor Nguyen Cong Khan from the Health Ministry explained to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper.
* Vietnam's economy in the last several decades has grown in leapsand bounds, but the average height has not. In your opinion, why is thisthe case?
Malnutrition was a chronic problem inour country for many decades, so it will take time for this to improve.Many people have said it would take two generations to phase this out.
In such a situation, if we want to take short cutsto improve the height of the younger generation, we have to takesynchronous steps during the child's growth period. The most importantstage of development is when the child is under two years old.
However, a child's physical health is often plagued by infectiousdiseases. To improve height we need to do two things - improve thechildren's physical health with good nutrition and provide a healthyenvironment for their development.
* What Vietnam can do to improve the situation?
Studies from many countries show that nutrition is extremely importantin the foetal stage. Between the age of two and three, nutritionbecomes a bigger factor in affecting the child's future height.
Another important thing is that the child must be breast fed. Whenthey are fed using supplements, it is important to give them sufficientvitamins and minerals necessary for the child's development. The foodmust also be clean.
* All these factors contribute to the child's height and can be improved.
In Japan, studies indicated the period when the child started schoolwas also an important stage in the child's growth. During this stage,the children's diet is considered the most important.
Of course, the richer and more diverse the diet, the healthier thechild will be, not forgetting that milk is a very important supplementfor children.
We need to take a lesson from Japan and provide milk for our children's school-meals.
* What is the role of the growth hormone in the children's development?
Normally, the growth hormone (GH) will start to work after 10pm - when children are fast sleep.
However, in Vietnam, most children at that time are still preparing lessons for the next school day.
I don't think there is any research that concludes that learning after10pm will affect the children's GH levels. When we talk about the GH,it means balancing rest and study time - two important factors affectingthe child's growth.
In addition to class hours,children should have time to play and do physical exercises,particularly swimming which helps to lengthen and lean out bodies -adding height.
* Some recent studies show that theheight of rural children in Vietnam has improved quite significantly.But yet we have a nation-wide survey that concludes our children are theshortest in Southeast Asia. Does that mean the conclusion of theprevious studies were wrong?
As I have mentionedabove, the height of our people has improved quite a lot in the last twoor three decades. However, the gain was not evenly distributed.
In urban areas, I should say young people are much taller than theirold folks. But in the mountainous regions, particularly remote areas,there hasn't been a big change in the population's height.
In my opinion, if we adopt proper means of intervention for 20 years, Iam confident that the average height of our people will reach thecurrent height of South Korean peopl.-VNA
Despite economicgrowth lurching forward in the last decade, the average height ofVietnamese people has increased by only 4cm. Compared with the samegroups in the Republic of Korea, Japan, Thailand, China and others inSouth East Asia, the Vietnamese are considered the shortest.
Professor Nguyen Cong Khan from the Health Ministry explained to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper.
* Vietnam's economy in the last several decades has grown in leapsand bounds, but the average height has not. In your opinion, why is thisthe case?
Malnutrition was a chronic problem inour country for many decades, so it will take time for this to improve.Many people have said it would take two generations to phase this out.
In such a situation, if we want to take short cutsto improve the height of the younger generation, we have to takesynchronous steps during the child's growth period. The most importantstage of development is when the child is under two years old.
However, a child's physical health is often plagued by infectiousdiseases. To improve height we need to do two things - improve thechildren's physical health with good nutrition and provide a healthyenvironment for their development.
* What Vietnam can do to improve the situation?
Studies from many countries show that nutrition is extremely importantin the foetal stage. Between the age of two and three, nutritionbecomes a bigger factor in affecting the child's future height.
Another important thing is that the child must be breast fed. Whenthey are fed using supplements, it is important to give them sufficientvitamins and minerals necessary for the child's development. The foodmust also be clean.
* All these factors contribute to the child's height and can be improved.
In Japan, studies indicated the period when the child started schoolwas also an important stage in the child's growth. During this stage,the children's diet is considered the most important.
Of course, the richer and more diverse the diet, the healthier thechild will be, not forgetting that milk is a very important supplementfor children.
We need to take a lesson from Japan and provide milk for our children's school-meals.
* What is the role of the growth hormone in the children's development?
Normally, the growth hormone (GH) will start to work after 10pm - when children are fast sleep.
However, in Vietnam, most children at that time are still preparing lessons for the next school day.
I don't think there is any research that concludes that learning after10pm will affect the children's GH levels. When we talk about the GH,it means balancing rest and study time - two important factors affectingthe child's growth.
In addition to class hours,children should have time to play and do physical exercises,particularly swimming which helps to lengthen and lean out bodies -adding height.
* Some recent studies show that theheight of rural children in Vietnam has improved quite significantly.But yet we have a nation-wide survey that concludes our children are theshortest in Southeast Asia. Does that mean the conclusion of theprevious studies were wrong?
As I have mentionedabove, the height of our people has improved quite a lot in the last twoor three decades. However, the gain was not evenly distributed.
In urban areas, I should say young people are much taller than theirold folks. But in the mountainous regions, particularly remote areas,there hasn't been a big change in the population's height.
In my opinion, if we adopt proper means of intervention for 20 years, Iam confident that the average height of our people will reach thecurrent height of South Korean peopl.-VNA
