SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Childhood nutrition is a dietary issue with complex health consequences — but a growing body of medical experts, researchers and advocacy groups also see economic implications.
They point out that children whose nutritional needs are not met are more likely to have difficulties focusing and more likely to miss school days for illness.
“This all leads to poorer school performance, which leads to lower income earning potential as adults,” said pediatric specialist Tanya Arora, co-director of the Global Health Education Programs at the UCLA Center for World Health. “As pediatricians, parents and advocates, we have a responsibility to educate ourselves and others on how we can support children in having the right nutrition, right from the start, to reach their full potential.”
That education continues at 6:30 p.m. March 30 at UCLA Medical Center, 1250 16th St., in Santa Monica, where Arora and others will take part in a public forum about early childhood nutrition.
The free event will be highlighted by Arora’s informal interview of Heidi Murkoff, author of the bestselling “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” pregnancy guide.
“The health, wellbeing and economic success of this nation, and countries around the world, is inherently linked to the nutritional status of our moms and moms-to-be, and our babies and toddlers,” Murkoff said in a release. “It’s time for us, a society that focuses on family values, to truly value families — and to prioritize nourishing the next generation.”
Arora’s chat with Murkoff will follow an introduction from UCLA Center for World Health director Tom Coates and remarks from Lucy Martinez Sullivan of 1,000 Days, an advocacy group that promotes improved nutrition for mothers and children in the time between a woman’s pregnancy and her child’s second birthday. The evening will wrap up with an audience Q&A session.
“Optimizing early childhood nutrition is essential to ensuring healthy physical and mental development,” Arora said. “If children don’t get the right nutrition during their first two years of life, the damage done to their physical and mental health is irreversible.”