What can we see from the way the Japanese have improved their stature 'spectacularly' over the past 50 years?

Lessons on improving Vietnam's "spectacular" stature and current situation

The reality in many countries that have successfully implemented nutrition programs shows that in order to improve population quality and human stature and physical strength, the quality, meal menus, and nutritional regulations must be standardized.

President of the National Nutrition Association of Japan, Professor Nakamura Teiji - who came to Vietnam to attend the "Nutrition of Vietnamese People" conference in 2018, shared that since 1954, Japan has "legislated" nutrition, specifically school nutrition - with nutritional intake standards and food safety management standards for school meals.

Professor Nakamura Teiji - President of the Japanese National Nutrition Association, workshop "Nutrition for Vietnamese people" in 2018. Photo courtesy

The legalization of these nutritional issues has contributed to helping Japan improve and develop the stature and physical strength of Japanese people in a spectacular way.

Specifically, in the 1950s, the average Japanese man was 1m50 tall and the average Japanese woman was 1m49 tall (the average height of Japanese people at that time was 4cm shorter than that of Vietnam). However, after more than 50 years, as of 2021, the average height of Japanese people is 1m72 for men and 1m58 for women - the highest figures in Asia.

Obviously, it is no coincidence that the stature and height of Japanese people can improve so quickly in such a short time. The focus on laws and policies on nutrition has brought "sweet fruit".

In Vietnam, taking care of children’s health and improving the stature and physical strength of Vietnamese people is one of the top priorities of the State, in which nutrition care plays an important role. However, the results achieved are far from expectations.

At the International Conference on Formula Nutrition from Fresh Milk - Golden Nutrition for Children's Comprehensive Development in Hanoi on June 8, Dr. Nguyen Song Tu - National Institute of Nutrition said: The results of the National Nutrition Survey 2019-2020 conducted by the National Institute of Nutrition show that although the height of Vietnamese youth has increased - currently the average height of men is 168.1 cm, women is 156.2 cm - it is still lower than many countries in the region and lower than the standards of the World Health Organization WHO. The study also shows that Vietnam is facing obesity, malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies in children.

Dr. Nguyen Song Tu - National Institute of Nutrition. Photo: PV

Specifically, the rate of stunting malnutrition in children under 5 years old in 2020 nationwide was 19.6%, of which the rate in mountainous areas was up to 38%, which is very high in terms of public health significance according to WHO classification. Childhood obesity is increasing. The rate of obese children aged 5 to 19 years old in 2020 was up to 19%, more than 2.2 times higher than the rate of 8.5% in 2010. Of which, the rate in urban areas was 26.8%, in rural areas was 18.3% and in mountainous areas was 6.9%.

Micronutrient deficiencies are a concern, especially vitamin A, iron and zinc deficiencies. In 2020, the anemia rate in children under 5 years old in Vietnam was 19.6% while the target was 15%. Zinc deficiency is particularly high, up to 58%, at a severe level of public health significance according to WHO standards. This rate is even higher in the Northern mountainous region and the Central Highlands, up to 67%. In urban areas, although lower (49%), it is still severe and has hardly improved in the five years from 2015 to 2020. Research by the Southeast Asia Nutrition Organization shows that the daily diet of Vietnamese children lacks up to 50% of micronutrient needs.

There are laws for better nutrition care

Among the solutions proposed, scientists have repeatedly emphasized the need to enact laws regulating nutrition issues in general, including school nutrition.

“I support this proposal because proper nutrition is an extremely important issue not only for the people but also for the future and the nation’s race. To take good care of nutrition, there must be an appropriate legal framework,” Ms. Mai Hoa, Vice Chairwoman of the Committee for Culture and Society, expressed her opinion on the sidelines of the International Conference on Formula Nutrition from Fresh Milk - Golden Nutrition for Children’s Comprehensive Development, on June 8 in Hanoi.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Mai Hoa - Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly's Committee on Culture and Society. Photo: PV

Ms. Mai Hoa said that the current regulations on nutrition are scattered in Decrees and Circulars; if they are gathered in one legal document, the implementation process will be more convenient, helping people's nutritional care achieve the best results and attracting businesses to invest in this field.

"I hope that from the ideas and suggestions of scientists, the authorities will research and propose to include this content in the Law and Ordinance Building Program as soon as possible," said the Deputy Head of the Committee for Culture and Society.

Science has proven that 86% of a child's height develops between the ages of 0-12 - also known as the "golden age".

“Nutrition plays a very important role for young children, especially in the first years of life,” Dr. Clair-Yves Boquien, French Center for Human Nutrition Research (CRNH) also emphasized many times in his speech at the international conference.Formulated nutrition from fresh milk - Golden nutrition for the golden age, helping children develop comprehensivelyin Hanoi on June 8.

Dr. Clair - Yves Boquien said that studies have proven that a proper nutritional regimen for children in the golden age from 0 - 12 years old will help reduce mortality and the risk of disease throughout the child's life; promote the child's continuous physical and mental development.

“It can be said that investing in positive nutrition when children are young brings long-term benefits to individuals, families and countries,” said Dr. Clair - Yves Boquien.

“If we are negligent in this stage, we will affect the whole life of the child. Accordingly, every link in a person's life must be paid attention to, especially the first years of life,” Ms. Thai Huong - Hero of Labor, Founder and Chairwoman of the TH Group Strategy Council, said at the Workshop.

Labor Hero Thai Huong - Founder and Chairwoman of TH Group's Strategy Council spoke at the Workshop. Photo: PV

Over the years, as a leading enterprise in the food industry, a patriotic enterprise and entrepreneur with the aspiration to improve Vietnamese stature, TH Group (owner of the TH true MILK brand) and Ms. Thai Huong - Founder and Chairwoman of the Group's Strategy Council - have persistently and tirelessly pursued the process of "for Vietnamese stature", through practical activities on nutrition and health for Vietnamese people.

Sharing her views and guiding thoughts, Ms. Thai Huong said: "A country is only strong when people are fully developed both physically and mentally, in which the prerequisite for this development is not only essential nutrition such as rice, rice, food but also a sustainable health care regime...".

The founder and Chairman of the TH Group Strategy Council hopes that nutrition regulations - which are still unclear and scattered - will soon be standardized and legalized.