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A new World Bank report warns that children who do not get enough good food in the first two years of life suffer lasting damage. They may be underdeveloped or underweight. They may suffer from poor health or limited intelligence. In addition, poorly nourished children are more likely to drop out of school and earn less money as adults.
The report notes that too little food is not the only cause of poor nutrition. Many children who live in homes with plenty of food suffer for other reasons. For example, the study says that mothers often fail to give their newly born babies their breast milk. This milk-like substance is called colostrums (初乳). It is full of nutrients that improve a baby’s ability’s to fight infections and disease.
The study also links malnutrition (营养不良) to economic growth in poor countries. A lack of nutrition in early childhood can cost developing nations up to three percent of their yearly earning. Many of these same countries have economies that are growing at a rate of two to three percent yearly. The study suggests that poor countries could possibly double their economic growth if they improved nutrition.