Short and Long Term Effects of Poor Nutrition on Child Development

Award in Childcare and
Education Assignment 11

Contents
Contents...........................................................................................................................................2
SHORT TERM EFFECTS..............................................................................................................1
LONG TERM EFFECTS................................................................................................................3
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

SHORT TERM EFFECTS
Poor nutritional intake contributes to high levels of stress, loss of capacity to work and
the development of health conditions such as tooth decay, high cholesterol, heart disease and
stroke. There is enough evidence that states that lack of nutrition negatively impacts the
cognitive development of the brain which hampers the ability to learning and memorize. There is
a decline in cognitive concentration and energy levels which affect the overall well-being of
young individuals. Consumption of an unhealthy diet, high in fat, gradually hardens the arteries
of the heart and has the potential to increase the risk of heart attack. The deposition of fatty
plaques is caused due to excessive consumption of food and beverages high in fat (Tobaldini and
et. al., 2019). The reason being, that fatty foods are high in cholesterol. Apart from fatty foods,
sugary foods are directly linked to hyperactivity which inhibits a child's ability to focus and
impart impulsive behaviours.
Poor activity levels: The ability to regulate emotions and analyse information is
hampered affecting the overall behaviour of child. Not consuming a healthy diet can lead to
obesity or an increased risk of malnutrition. The ill effects of imbalance of diet ranges from poor
physical growth and irregularities in mood, that is directly associated with reduced concentration
spans. Children administering fast foods experience an increased intensity of mental tantrums
and physical sluggishness. This condition of sluggishness is linked to low levels of physical
activity leading to obesity.
Poor brain development: The growth and development in a child is impaired due to
consuming inadequate amounts of nutrients responsible for vital functions of body. Along with
impairment of physical growth, the muscle strength and acuity of vision is decreased along with
the growth of bones and teeth. Therefore, it is crucial to provide the child with appropriate
quantity of required nutrients. The consumption of food items rich in sugar and fat such as cakes,
aerated drinks etc. lead to dental caries and muscle cramps (Thomas, Miller and Morrissey,
2019). The most common repercussions of consuming nutrition deficient food items are early
childhood tooth decay and malformation of bones, knees etc.
Anaemia: The high consumption of poor quality of food items cause rapid obesity and
onset of several long term diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and cancer. Early childhood is
a time of rapid brain development where cognitive skills develop. Therefore, it is crucial to
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