Nutritional evaluation of infants and young children - About Definition, Method, necessity, Importance and Korean Medical Approach -

Objectives: This study was conducted to review the overall concept of nutritional evaluation of infants and young children. Methods: Literature search was done to study definition, method and importance of nutritional evaluation of infants and young children. Pubmed and Google scholarship were used in the research. Search words were 'Nutritional evaluation', 'infants' and 'young children'. Results: Nutrition evaluation is mainly used by physical measurement, clinical evaluation, dietary intake survey, and biochemical test depending on the age and disease. The treatment method for 治未病, which is a concept of korean medicine, and 健兒法 for treating the concept of weak children are considered to have very high applicability in solving various problems found through nutrition evaluation in korean medical approach. Conclusion: Infants and children are the fastest growing period of their lives, showing rapid growth in physical, and emotional development along with rapid brain growth. Therefore, inadequate nutrition during this period affects mental and physical growth and development not only during that period but also throughout life. Nutrition evaluation is divided into regular evaluation that includes children in all growing seasons and screening evaluation for problem solving, and follow-up nutritional evaluation that evaluates nutritional status in the long run. For each nutritional evaluation, evaluation is conducted by physical measurement, clinical evaluation, dietary intake survey, and biochemical test. By comprehensively interpreting them, nutritional status is determined. This study provides basic data on the proper nutrition evaluation method to identify and correct nutritional problems such as growth level, nutritional deficiency, and nutritional excess early.

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