The average height of Bangladeshi people is less than 5 feet 2 inches. In the hilly region, this is a major problem. In order to eliminate it, the necessary nutrients along with the diet awareness is needed, opined health experts.
According to the Insider.com, a USA based magazine, the average height of a Bangladeshi is 157.29cm (5 feet 1.92 inches). On average, a Bangladeshi man is 163.80cm (5 feet 4.48 inches) tall. The average Bangladeshi woman is 150.78cm (4 feet 11.36 inches) tall.
According to the list prepared by the magazine, Bangladesh stands in height parameter at 9th position amongst 25 countries. According to the World Population Review, people of Netherlands are the tallest in the world, where people have an average height of 6 feet.
Physician Abul Quayum of Comfort General Hospital, Dhaka, told Bangladesh Post, “Our mothers have to be aware of it. We are not aware of this. Nutrition should be provided before the birth of a baby. This can be addressed by providing sufficient food and nutrition to the baby and the mother.”
By eating nutritious foods, develops the baby’s brain and body structure, which ensures healthy development of the baby, he added. He mentioned that the role of nutrition is very vital in the first 1,000 days or almost three years after the baby is born. At this stage, more than 1 million neurons connect to the brain every second. Lack of nutrients hinders brain development.
Former Professor Nazma Khatun of the Institute of Nutrition and Food Science at the University of Dhaka told Bangladesh Post, “I have seen mothers often complain about their children’s height. When a child is born, sufficient food and nutrients must be ensured for the highest development of the baby at the early stage,”
That means, it is necessary to ensure that the mother and baby dietary intake of supplements, fats, iron, zinc, iodine, vitamins, etc are available in the mother and baby's diet since birth, she added.
It is important to remember that breast milk is sufficient for the first six months of a baby. No need for any other food during this period. No need for even outside water. The doctor's advice in this regard should be followed, Professor Nazma added.
Providing nutrients will ensure brain development. The child will be intelligent. The structure of his body will also be good. Height will increase properly. There will be no shortening, she emphasized.
