Childhood obesity in Vietnam is increasingly linked to early puberty and stunted adult height. Doctor Phan Bich Nga, Chairwoman of the Pediatric Nutrition Association, explained at a seminar on updating micronutrient recommendations for height growth in children on 18/4 in Hanoi that, "Obese children may experience early bone development and early puberty, but their height growth stops prematurely. This is why they might initially appear taller than their peers but are 'overtaken' as they reach adulthood."

The prevalence of overweight and obesity among Vietnamese children is rapidly increasing. From 2010 to 2020, this rate for children under 5 years old rose from 5% to 8%. In the 5 to 18 age group, the number more than doubled, increasing from 7% to 19%, primarily among high school students.

According to Doctor Nga, obesity is fundamentally an excess of energy, not merely an 'excess of nutrients'. When the body has surplus energy, a competitive mechanism occurs among cells, prioritizing fat cell development and leading to numerous consequences. This inhibits calcium absorption and increases bone degradation activity. Consequently, the skeletal system weakens, hindering optimal height development.

Additionally, one of the most evident consequences of childhood obesity is early puberty. Upon entering puberty, the body experiences rapid growth for a short period. However, the growth plates also begin to close. If this process occurs prematurely, the "golden window" for height development also closes early.

Children should see a doctor if their height growth rate is slow. Photo: Minh Thu

Sharing this view, Doctor Nguyen Thi Thu Hau from Children's Hospital 2 also stated that obesity affects physical, psychological, and metabolic health. It specifically causes fat accumulation, reduces bone and muscle mass, and diminishes the chance to achieve maximum potential height. Therefore, obese children require nutritional and physical activity interventions to increase height and bone mass.

Specifically, children need to reduce sugar and saturated fat intake, ensure sufficient calcium, vitamin D, vitamin K2, and bone-supporting factors like adequate protein and arginine to improve bone health. Children should be encouraged to engage in moderate to vigorous physical activity for at least 60 minutes daily, with high-intensity activities for a minimum of three days per week, and reduce sedentary time (excluding study time) to under 2 hours per day.

Obesity is just one of four nutritional burdens Vietnamese children face, alongside malnutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and an increase in diet-related non-communicable diseases. Associate Professor Pham Ngoc Khai, President of the Vietnam Nutrition Association, noted that currently, about 20% of children have heights below standard, reflecting the widespread issue of suboptimal development. Therefore, an interdisciplinary strategy combining nutrition, healthcare, and social factors is needed.

The stature of Vietnamese people has changed significantly in recent years but remains among the shortest, ranking fourth in Southeast Asia with an average male height of 168,1 cm and female height of 156,2 cm. Compared to other Southeast Asian countries, Vietnamese people's height is lower than Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand. Ten years ago, Vietnamese people ranked almost the shortest in the region, only slightly taller than Indonesians and Filipinos.

Experts emphasize that the key to improving Vietnamese stature is not just eating enough but also eating correctly, balancing energy and micronutrients, while incorporating appropriate physical activity.

Le Nga