FIJI, among other countries in the Pacific, has high rates of overweight and obesity among children over five years of age.
This was highlighted in a report by UNICEF titled The State of the World’s Children 2019: Children, food and nutrition that poor diets were damaging children’s health in the Pacific.
According to the report, too many children were introduced to the wrong kind of diet when they started transitioning to soft or solid foods at about six months of age.
The report provided a comprehensive assessment of 21st century child malnutrition in all its forms, under nutrition, hidden hunger caused by a lack of essential nutrients, and overweight among children.
“When children start eating soft, semi-solid or solid foods at six months old, they need nutritious and safe diets with a range of nutrients to grow well,” said UNICEF Pacific Representative, Sheldon Yett.
“If children do not have sufficient diverse and nutritious foods, the consequences can be devastating.”
He said the issue worsened as children grew older because their exposure to unhealthy food was driven largely by inappropriate marketing and advertising.
“The greatest burden of malnutrition in all its forms is shouldered by children and adolescents from the poorest and most marginalised communities.
“The report also notes that climate-related disasters cause severe food crises.
“This leads to losses in agriculture, dramatically altering what food is available to children and families, as well as the quality and price of that food.”
