Abbott’s Growth Watch initiative shines a light on childhood stunting, a form of malnutrition. It aims to empower parents to screen for and recognize stunting in their children so that they can improve their children’s nutrition if needed.
Stunting can challenge a child’s development, impact their overall health, and limit their future potential. Children affected by stunting can be at risk of significant immune deficiencies, compromised cognitive function, behavioral problems, diminished bone health, and decreased muscle mass.3 , 4 ,5 , 6 The Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition 2023-2028 identified poor feeding practices and low nutrition literacy among the causes of malnutrition in the country.7 Additionally, 2 in 3 Filipino moms don’t recognize stunting as an important child development issue.8
"There is a clear need to educate parents on the prevalence and impact of childhood stunting on growth and development," explains Dr. Jose Dimaano Jr., nutrition medical affairs director for Abbott in Pacific Asia. "Early identification of growth issues and quick intervention for children found to be at risk of nutrition deficiency can have a profound impact on the fight against stunting. This is why Abbott is taking a multidisciplinary approach in supporting parents by working with communities and healthcare practitioners to provide tools and information to spot the signs of malnutrition and take action."
In collaborating with celebrity moms Chesca Kramer, Nadine Samonte, Divine Lee, and Nina Corpuz, influencers, and online mom communities, Abbott intends to increase awareness of stunting and support parents with tools and educational resources that can help children reach their full growth potential.
''Since its inception in 2021, Growth Watch has educated and reached more than 161,000 families, and the goal is to double the reach by the end of next year,'' said Angelico Escobar, general manager of Abbott’s nutrition business in the Philippines. ''Abbott is driven by our mission to help children have a healthy start and reach their optimal growth. We know that malnutrition is complex and affects children’s growth across all socioeconomic classes. The work of Growth Watch is one of Abbott’s efforts to fight global malnutrition and to help children achieve their growth potential through measurement and proper nutrition.''
In 2021, Abbott launched the Abbott Center for Malnutrition Solutions, an initiative to reduce malnutrition. The center, a collaboration between Abbott and external experts and partners, is focused on the identification, treatment, and prevention of malnutrition for the most vulnerable populations in the world including children, aging adults, and under-resourced populations. The Growth Watch initiative also contributes toward Abbott's 2030 Sustainability Plan goal to transform care for malnutrition, and chronic and infectious diseases.
As part of the Growth Watch initiative, parents and guardians are invited to join mom communities to establish the habit of measuring their children’s height and provide proper nutrition to safeguard the growth, well-being, and development of children across the country. Tools and resources available include:
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PediaSure Plus Growth Calculator
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Free growth
assessment and nutrition counseling
For more information on the growth tools and resources, visit https://www.family.abbott/ph-en/pediasure/tools-and-resources.html.
For free growth assessment and nutrition counseling, register online or by calling Abbott’s
About Abbott:
Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 115,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.
Connect with us at www.abbott.com, on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/abbott-/, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Abbott and on Twitter @AbbottNews.
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1 United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), World Health Organization (WHO), International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/The World Bank. Levels and trends in child malnutrition: UNICEF / WHO / World Bank Group Joint Child Malnutrition Estimates: Key findings of the 2023 edition. New York: UNICEF and WHO; 2023.
2 Montemayor, M. T. (n.d.).
1 of 4 kids under 5 years
old stunted: DOH. Philippine News Agency. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1209158.
3 Victora CG, et al. The Lancet.
2008;371:340-357.
4 UNICEF-WHO-World Bank Group
joint child malnutrition estimates. Levels and trends in child malnutrition. 2015.
5 Mehta NM, et al. JPEN J Parenter
Enteral Nutr. 2013;37:460-481.
6 Prado EL, Dewey KG.
Nutrition reviews. 2014;72:267-284.
7 Philippine Plan Of Action For Nutrition 2023-2028.
8 Smart Parenting Mom Village Survey (2021).
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