Nutrition, health and education in early years

According to the World Health Organization, nutrition plays a fundamental role from the earliest stages of fetal development across the human lifespan. Nutritious food is essential not only for survival but contributes to the person’s physical and mental well-being. In children, nutrition is pivotal. If a child is not given nutritious food from an early age it can have severe impact on its physical growth, cognitive ability and performance of the brain (Figure 1). A malnourished child is at a high risk for a wide range of health problems such as metabolic impairment, compromised immunity and developmental disorders, including attentiondeficit- hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, dyspraxia and autistic spectrum disorders. Right nutrition can have a profound impact on a child’s ability to grow, learn and rise out of poverty. It also benefits society, by boosting productivity and improving economic prospects for families and communities