Hidden hunger shows up in new Asian nutrition report

Results from the largest and most extensive nutrition and health study ever done in Southeast Asia have revealed critical nutritional deficiencies among children under age 12 across the region. The South East Asia Nutrition Survey (SEANUTS) of 16,744 children in four of the largest countries in the region − Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia − was presented at a regional conference co-hosted by the Nutritional Society of Malaysia (NSM) and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) in Malaysia. It was commissioned and sponsored by Royal FrieslandCampina, the company behind Dutch Lady Malaysia.

The recently concluded study, which started more than two years ago, spotlights an important nutrition and health issue in Malaysia known as ‘hidden hunger’. This term is used by researchers to illustrate nutritional deficiencies that cannot be visibly observed. Overall, the local children may appear healthy or even overfed. However, they still suffer from a significant lack of nutrients such as vitamin D and calcium; essential components for the growth and development of these youngsters.

Commenting on the study’s findings, Professor Poh Bee Koon, principal investigator for the SEANUTS in Malaysia and head of the nutritional sciences programme at UKM’s School of Healthcare Sciences says: “While overweight and obesity are easily observable among local children, results from SEANUTS highlight something deeper: hidden hunger. It is important for us to take a closer look at what our children really need in terms of nutrition, and not just what they seem to need on the surface. Equally important, the results have also brought to our attention that more needs to be done to educate and spread awareness about the ideal nutritional standards that are recommended for our children. After all, this is the next generation, and our future.”

SEANUTS showed that almost one in ten children in the urban regions of Malaysia are showing signs of under-nutrition based on their weight to age ratio; the percentage of rural children is only slightly lower. The study also revealed that one in ten children in Malaysia are stunted for their age, a symptom that may be irreversible and is most commonly seen due to a lack of proper nutritional dietary habits. On the other hand, nearly one in five children are facing the issue of over-nutrition according to the study’s results. These children were found to be either overweight or obese. SEANUTS has demonstrated that in the areas of health and nutrition, there are still gaps to be filled and proper information and education are urgently needed.

Royal FrieslandCampina and its local partner UKM have invested in SEANUTS with the aim of better understanding the current nutritional and health status of the region’s children. It is a multi-centre study that was simultaneously carried out among 16,744 children aged 6 months to 12 years in four countries − Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam. Its aim was to comprehensively examine the children’s nutritional status, dietary intake and habits, physical activity, blood biochemistry, as well as to assess bone health and cognitive function. The study was conducted with the involvement of relevant organisations in each country.

In Malaysia, data was collected from May 2010 to October 2011 in six regions across the country, namely the Northern, Central, Southern and East Coast areas of Peninsular Malaysia, as well as Sabah and Sarawak.