Vietnam's population currently ranks among the shortest globally, with an average height of 168,1 cm for males and 156,2 cm for females. This places the country 153rd out of 201 nations and territories, according to statistics from the NCD Risk Factor Collaboration network. Vietnamese youth are approximately 3 cm shorter than the global male average of 171 cm, a statistic highlighted by Associate Professor, Doctor Truong Hong Son, Director of the Vietnam Institute of Applied Medicine, at the "For a Tall and Healthy Era" campaign launch in Hanoi on 12/5.

Despite the current ranking, recent data indicates a notable improvement in the stature of the younger generation. The National Nutrition Survey 2019-2020 revealed that over the past 10 years, males grew an additional 3,7 cm and females 2,6 cm. Experts consider this growth rate the fastest ever, comparable to Japan's "golden period" from 1955 to 1995. This progress has allowed Vietnam to surpass Indonesia and the Philippines, securing the 4th position in Southeast Asia, closely trailing Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand. However, Doctor Son noted that "this increase is still slow and has not met expectations".

The modest stature of the Vietnamese population reveals persistent challenges in nutrition, lifestyle, and physical development strategies. Doctor Son attributes these limitations to several factors: a diet deficient in micronutrients, an unscientific lifestyle, and low levels of physical activity among school-aged children. Medical data confirms the ongoing prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies and imbalanced diets within the community. Furthermore, the education sector has not consistently disseminated scientific nutritional knowledge across all school levels, and educational institutions have yet to establish regular and sustainable physical training habits for students. Four key factors determine stature: genetics accounts for 23%, nutrition for 32%, with the remaining percentage attributed to physical training and sleep.

Children from Hoang Dieu primary school participate in the campaign launch. Photo: Kim Duyen

From a macro perspective, the low height index directly threatens national physical development goals and poses a significant barrier to improving the quality of the national workforce. This situation demands urgent implementation of a three-pronged intervention strategy by authorities, encompassing nutrition, physical activity, and applied research, to overcome physical limitations for future generations. The Politburo's Resolution 72 sets a target for adolescents aged 1-18 to increase their height by at least 1,5 cm by 2030.

Doctor Son advises parents to pay special attention to three "golden stages" for growth: the first 1.000 days of life, preschool age, and puberty. He suggests parents regularly apply the MAXD formula daily to optimize their children's stature: M represents one hour of stretching and jumping exercises to activate growth cartilage; A signifies eating adequate nutrients to build the skeletal system; X reminds parents to ensure deep sleep for body recovery; and D emphasizes maintaining sufficient vitamin D to aid calcium absorption.

Le Nga