Researchers studied 772 elementary school students in the mountainous region of northern Vietnam to understand their nutrition and health. They found that about 1 in 5 students were too thin for their age, while very few were overweight. The main reasons included families with lower incomes and kids drinking sugary drinks and eating too many snacks. This research shows that even in the same country, different areas face different nutrition problems, and that both poverty and unhealthy eating habits matter for kids’ health.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: How many elementary school kids in a mountainous part of Vietnam are too thin or overweight, and what causes these problems
  • Who participated: 772 students (ages 5-19) from two primary schools in a rural, mountainous district of northern Vietnam, including families from ethnic minority groups
  • Key finding: About 18% of students were too thin for their age, while less than 2% were overweight. Kids from poorer families were more likely to be too thin, and drinking sugary drinks and eating snacks affected their weight
  • What it means for you: This research suggests that in mountainous areas, the main nutrition problem is kids being underweight rather than overweight. If you live in similar areas, focusing on making sure kids eat enough healthy food and limiting sugary drinks could help. However, this study was done in Vietnam, so results may differ in other places

The Research Details

Researchers visited two primary schools in a mountainous district of northern Vietnam and measured 772 students’ height and weight using official health guidelines. They also asked parents questions about their family’s income, what their kids eat, how much kids exercise, and what parents know about nutrition. This type of study is called a ‘snapshot’ study because it looks at everyone at one point in time, rather than following them over months or years.

The researchers used international standards (from the World Health Organization) to decide if each student was too thin, normal weight, or overweight based on their age and height. They then looked at which families’ kids were more likely to be too thin or overweight, paying attention to things like how much money families made, what kids ate, and how active they were.

This approach is useful for understanding what problems exist in a community and what might be causing them, but it doesn’t prove that one thing definitely causes another—it just shows which things go together.

This type of study is important because it helps health officials understand what nutrition problems exist in specific communities and what might be causing them. By studying kids in this particular mountainous area, researchers could see that the main problem is kids being too thin (not overweight like in many other places), which means solutions need to be different. Understanding the causes—like family income and eating habits—helps create better programs to help kids.

This study is reliable because it measured all students using official health standards rather than just guessing. The researchers asked detailed questions to parents to understand family situations. However, the study only looked at two schools in one district, so results might be different in other mountainous areas. Also, because it’s a snapshot study, we can’t be completely sure that low income causes thinness—there could be other reasons we don’t know about. The study was published in a well-respected science journal, which means other experts reviewed it first.

What the Results Show

Out of 772 students measured, about 140 students (18.1%) were too thin for their age according to international health standards. Only about 9 students (1.2%) were overweight or obese. This shows that in this mountainous region, being too thin is a much bigger problem than being overweight.

When researchers looked at what caused these problems, they found that kids from families with lower incomes were significantly more likely to be too thin. Specifically, kids from families earning less money had about 43% lower odds of being a healthy weight compared to kids from wealthier families. This makes sense because families with less money may struggle to buy enough food for their children.

The study also found that what kids eat matters a lot. Students who drank more sugary drinks and ate more snacks had different weight patterns than those who didn’t. This suggests that even though some kids aren’t eating enough food overall, the type of food they do eat affects their health.

Interestingly, the study found that how much kids exercise and parents’ knowledge about nutrition also played a role in students’ weight, though family income was the strongest factor.

The research showed differences between the two schools studied, with one school having slightly higher rates of thinness than the other. This suggests that local conditions—like access to food, school programs, or community resources—might affect nutrition. The study also noted that many families in this area belong to ethnic minority groups, which sometimes face extra challenges in accessing healthcare and nutrition resources.

This research fits with what other studies have found: in poorer, rural areas of developing countries, kids are more likely to be too thin rather than overweight. However, this study shows something important that’s changing—even in these areas, sugary drinks and snacks are becoming more common and affecting kids’ health. This is different from the past when the only problem was not having enough food. It shows that communities are facing a ‘double burden’ where some kids don’t eat enough while others eat too much of the wrong foods.

This study only looked at kids in two schools in one mountainous district, so we can’t be sure the results apply to all mountain areas in Vietnam or other countries. The researchers asked parents questions about their families, but parents might not always remember or report things accurately. Because this is a snapshot study, we can see that low income and sugary drinks go together with thinness, but we can’t prove that one definitely causes the other. Finally, the study didn’t measure some things that might matter, like whether kids had diseases or parasites that affect nutrition.

The Bottom Line

Based on this research (moderate confidence): (1) Communities should focus on making sure all families can afford enough healthy food, especially in mountainous areas. (2) Schools could teach kids and parents about nutrition and the problems with sugary drinks. (3) Health programs should monitor kids’ growth and help identify those who are too thin. (4) Local governments should work to improve family incomes and food access in rural areas.

This research is most important for: health officials and governments in mountainous or rural areas; schools in these regions; families with limited income; and organizations working on child health in developing countries. If you live in a wealthy, urban area with good food access, these specific findings may not apply to you, though the general idea that poverty affects nutrition is universal.

Improvements in nutrition take time. If a family’s income increases or kids start eating healthier foods, you might see better growth and health in 3-6 months, but bigger changes in a community’s nutrition usually take 1-2 years of consistent effort.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track children’s height and weight monthly using a growth chart app, comparing results to age-appropriate standards. Record dietary intake (meals, snacks, drinks) for 3-day periods each month to identify patterns in sugary drink and snack consumption.
  • Set a specific goal to reduce sugary drinks by one serving per day and replace one snack with a healthier option (like fruit or nuts). Use the app to log these changes and celebrate weekly progress.
  • Create a monthly growth tracking dashboard showing height/weight trends against WHO standards. Pair this with a nutrition log that highlights sugary drink intake and snack choices, allowing families to see connections between eating habits and growth patterns over 3-6 month periods.

This research describes nutrition patterns in a specific region of Vietnam and should not be used to diagnose or treat individual children. If you’re concerned about a child’s weight or growth, consult with a pediatrician or healthcare provider who can evaluate that specific child’s health. This study shows associations between factors like income and nutrition, but doesn’t prove direct cause-and-effect relationships. Results from this mountainous Vietnamese region may not apply to other areas or populations. Always seek professional medical advice before making significant changes to a child’s diet or healthcare.