India is witnessing a rising burden of health conditions among women, including anaemia, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), early-onset diabetes, obesity, thyroid disorders, and poor bone health. While
these issues often surface during adolescence or adulthood, their roots frequently lie much earlier, in childhood nutrition.
Dr Sajili Mehta, Consultant Paediatric Endocrinologist, Surya Mother and Child Super Speciality Hospital, Pune, explains that childhood, especially the first 10–12 years, is a critical period for a girl’s physical, hormonal, and metabolic development. Poor nutrition during this phase can have lasting consequences later in life.
A diet lacking essential nutrients such as iron, protein, calcium, and vitamins can lead to growth retardation, weakened immunity, and endocrine imbalances. In India, iron-deficiency anaemia among women remains a significant public health concern and often begins in childhood. This is commonly due to inadequate intake of iron-rich foods such as green leafy vegetables, pulses, eggs, meat, and iron-fortified foods.
Another growing concern is the increasing consumption of ultra-processed foods. Frequent intake of packaged snacks, sugary breakfast cereals, instant noodles, fried foods, and sweetened beverages results in high-calorie but nutrient-poor diets. Over time, this pattern can contribute to childhood obesity, insulin resistance, and eventually conditions such as PCOS and type 2 diabetes.
Low calcium and vitamin D intake is another major issue. Limited consumption of milk, curd, paneer, ragi, along with reduced sunlight exposure due to sedentary lifestyles, can prevent children from achieving optimal peak bone mass. This significantly increases the risk of osteoporosis and poor bone health in adulthood.
Girls are particularly vulnerable because their nutritional requirements increase earlier due to puberty and future reproductive demands. Inadequate or imbalanced nutrition during these formative years can affect menstrual health and fertility later in life.
Prevention begins with prioritising wholesome, home-cooked meals that include whole grains, fruits, vegetables, adequate protein, and healthy fats, while reducing the intake of processed foods and added sugars. Regular growth monitoring and nutrition education also play a crucial role.
Most importantly, parents should consult a paediatrician early. Timely nutritional assessment and intervention during childhood can prevent many chronic health conditions and help ensure that girls grow into healthier women.
