Getting children to eat a balanced meal can be a daily challenge for parents, especially when picky eating leaves important foods off the plate. But when children regularly miss out on essential nutrients, the concern goes beyond what they eat. It can also affect how they grow, build muscle and develop strong bones.
For children at risk of undernutrition, better nutrition was linked to stronger growth outcomes. Those who received an oral nutrition supplement along with dietary counselling recorded approximately 2.4 times greater height gain and nearly 15% higher lean mass gain over six months than those who received dietary counselling alone. They also showed improvements in bone health, including a 35% increase in bone mineral density.
The trial also found better catch-up growth among children who received the supplement, with gains in weight-for-age and height-for-age percentiles of up to 4 times those seen in the dietary counselling group. They also had higher energy, carbohydrate and protein intake, along with improvements in mid-upper arm circumference, a measure of nutritional status. The children gained more lean mass without a rise in excess body fat.
The findings come from a six-month randomised controlled trial involving 223 Indian children aged about 3 to 7 years who had picky eating habits and were undernourished or at risk of undernutrition. Conducted between August 2023 and May 2024, the trial provided dietary counselling to families, while around half the children also received two daily servings of PediaSure, an Abbott oral nutritional supplement. The study was published in Children and the Journal of Clinical Medicine based on the same trial.
During the trial, height, weight, food intake, body composition and bone health were tracked at different stages. Researchers used dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) to measure lean mass, body fat and bone mineralisation.
Childhood undernutrition remains a public health concern in India. NFHS-6 (2023-24) data cited in the study show that 29.3% of children under five are stunted and 31.8% are underweight nationally. The researchers noted that the findings add to evidence on nutritional approaches for children with inadequate dietary intake and growth gaps.
“The importance of addressing undernutrition early with targeted nutrition support” was highlighted by Dr Anuradha Khadilkar, Consultant Pediatrician, Jehangir Clinical Development Center Pvt. Ltd., Pune, and lead investigator. She said the improvements went beyond visible growth measures to include lean mass and bone health, offering a broader picture of healthy growth in children at nutritional risk.
Meanwhile, Dr Priti Thakor, Director, Medical & Scientific Affairs, Abbott’s nutrition business in India, said, “The study adds to evidence that targeted nutritional support can help children at nutritional risk achieve healthy growth.” She noted that the results provide a more comprehensive view of growth outcomes by looking at factors beyond conventional measures.
For parents, the study highlights that healthy growth is about more than a child’s height or weight. Adequate nutrition can also play a role in building muscle, supporting bone health and helping children catch up when their growth falls behind.
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