Improving Vietnamese stature through school nutrition

(NLDO) - Vietnam considers school nutrition a strategy to improve the stature and physical strength of the young generation, requiring a strong enough legal framework and policies to implement effectively.

On the morning of August 14, in Hanoi, the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commission, together with the Ministry of Health , the Ministry of Education and Training, and the TH Group, organized a workshop on "International Science on School Nutrition in 2025 - For a healthy Vietnam, for Vietnamese stature".

Mr. Nguyen Trong Nghia, Head of the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commission, requested to complete the policy framework on nutrition.

Perfecting nutrition policy to improve Vietnamese stature

Speaking at the workshop, Mr. Nguyen Trong Nghia, Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Head of the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commission, praised the initiative to organize the workshop. He affirmed that this is a practical activity to implement the Party and State's guidelines and policies and the orientation of General Secretary To Lam on building a healthy Vietnam, where all people can live long, healthy, healthy and happy lives; human resources are physically, mentally, intellectually and morally healthy.

The Head of the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commission emphasized that the recommendations at the workshop are an important basis for advisory agencies to develop policies. He requested to focus on researching, developing and perfecting a comprehensive policy framework on nutrition, contributing to the implementation of the goals of health care, human resource development, and improving the quality of life of people, especially the younger generation.

The Head of the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commission suggested that after the workshop, agencies and localities focus on four tasks: renewing thinking and unifying actions; perfecting health care and protection institutions; promoting propaganda, raising awareness and healthy habits; mobilizing all resources, especially the private sector, to improve the physical strength, intelligence and stature of Vietnamese people.

Delegates attending the workshop

Vietnamese youth are still stunted

According to Deputy Minister of Education and Training Le Tan Dung, Vietnam still faces a double burden of nutrition: many rural and mountainous areas have high rates of malnutrition and stunting; while in urban areas, the diet is unbalanced, with excess energy but lack of micronutrients and little exercise, making students' health not guaranteed. The average height of Vietnamese students is still lower than the average of countries in the region.

From the perspective of the health sector, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Tri Thuc emphasized that Vietnam needs to create a breakthrough in school nutrition, considering schools - especially the golden period of 2 - 12 years old, as a strategic "front" for comprehensive intervention in nutrition and exercise, creating lifelong changes.

Deputy Minister Thuc affirmed that Vietnam has the right to be proud of being internationally recognized as a bright spot in improving nutrition: in the period 2010-2020, the height of 18-year-old youth increased significantly, with males increasing by 3.7 cm and females increasing by 2.6 cm.

The rate of stunting in children under 5 years old has decreased dramatically from over 30% to below 19.6% (in 2020), faster than the Southeast Asian average.

Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Tri Thuc emphasized the role of school nutrition.

However, nutrition work still faces many challenges. The rate of stunting among ethnic minority children is over 30%, nearly double the average; overweight and obesity in the city has nearly doubled in a decade, exceeding 20%. Although the height of Vietnamese youth has improved, it is still lower than that of Japan, South Korea, and Thailand.

He emphasized that school age is the "final golden stage" for comprehensive intervention in nutrition and exercise, creating lifelong changes. Therefore, focusing on improving school nutrition is a strategic direction to improve the stature, physical strength and intelligence of Vietnamese people.

Raising Vietnamese stature from school nutrition

The Deputy Minister of Health proposed perfecting institutions, considering investment in nutrition as investment in development, and building a strong enough legal and policy framework to improve the stature and physical strength of the young generation.

School meals need a nutritional breakthrough to improve the stature of Vietnamese people.

School nutrition is a major issue that requires comprehensive solutions and the decisive participation of the entire system. Solutions on education, socialization and application of science and technology also need to be guaranteed by comprehensive policies.

The goal is to build a "Comprehensive School Nutrition Ecosystem" - from "eating well" to "eating right, eating enough and exercising scientifically", creating a revolution in awareness, changing school meals from "eating well" to "eating right - eating enough - eating diversely - eating safely".

At the workshop, Professor Tran Thanh Duong, Director of the National Institute of Nutrition, proposed to issue standards for school meals and legalize nutritional regulations based on the pilot model of "School meals ensuring proper nutrition combined with increased physical activity" for students.

Dr. Philipp Rosler, Former Vice Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, shares experiences on school nutrition

Sharing experiences from the German Nutrition Standards (DGE) and the EU's school milk-vegetable-fruit program, Dr. Philipp Rösler, former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health of Germany, recommended that Vietnam replicate the successful pilot model and develop its own set of national nutrition standards.

At the forum, experts called for making school nutrition a priority in programs and plans of ministries, sectors and localities.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Mai Thoa, Standing Member of the National Assembly's Committee on Culture and Society, proposed to include school nutrition in the Central Committee's resolution, considering it a strategic task to enhance Vietnamese stature; at the same time, requesting Party committees and authorities at all levels to strengthen direction, propaganda and replication of effective school meal models.

Dr. Le Thai Ha, Deputy Director of the Department of Disease Prevention (Ministry of Health), said that the draft Law on Disease Prevention will have a separate chapter on school nutrition, stipulating that students are guaranteed standardized meals according to their age, moving from the "recommended" to "mandatory" level.

The Department of Disease Prevention is committed to taking the lead, especially in promoting institutional improvement and creating a solid legal framework; when the law is passed, it will be an effective tool to synchronize and standardize school nutrition nationwide.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/nang-tam-voc-nguoi-viet-nho-dinh-duong-hoc-duong-196250814144346493.htm