No one needs to tell us that children who have proper diets of nutritious food from an early age will have opportunities at a more prosperous life than their malnourished counter parts. Nutrition directly relates to a child's health, but what about a child's future wealth?
According to a recent study in The Lancet, a leading British medical journal, economic growth is directly related to a child's access to nutrition from an early age. A study of boys in four villages in Guatemala, showed that those receiving atole (a cereal made of skimmed milk powder, sugar and vegetable protein), up to the age of two had 46% higher earnings than those who received atole in their first three years earned 37% higher wages on average, while those who's diet did not contain atole until after the age of three had no economic benefits as adults.
According John Hoddinott, lead author of The Lancet's article and a senior research fellow at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), the research is the first to show direct evidence of the effects of early childhood nutrition programmes on adult economic productivity and incomes…Until the Guatemala study, “substantial, but indirect, evidence from previous research suggested that providing infants and very young children with healthy, nutritious food is a long-term economic investment for developing countries” (Good early nutrition can make you richer).
“The findings provide a strong argument for countries in Africa and Asia to increase investment in child nutrition programmes ‘as they drive long-term economic growth by leading to healthier and more productive adults.'”
Poor nutrition is directly related to a child's development and other related diseases. For example iron deficiency in infancy can lead to permanent loss of IQ. Both iron deficiency and anemia can cause shortened attention span, irritability, fatigue, and difficulty with concentration. Therefore the corelation between nutrition and a child's ability to learn is well established, and it must be seen as a key factor in a countries long term development strategy.
Regardless of the studies results it appears an obvious that adequate nutrition should be a number one priority for both the international communities at all levels, as not only the building blocs of a child's future, but of a nations future. Healthy children equal a healthy global economy and future for all. Sadly while it appears obvious that the solution to sustainability and prosperity lie in the early stages of child development, conflict and instability, poor government and aid infrastructures, and political will continue to hinder the development of millions of children on a daily basis across the globe.
