Researchers studied 510 malnourished children in Sri Lanka during the 2023 economic crisis to see if extra food and nutrition education could help them grow better. Half the children got regular care, while the other half received additional food baskets every two weeks plus cooking lessons for their parents. After six months, children who got the extra help showed better weight gain and ate more varied foods. This study shows that giving families more food and teaching them how to cook nutritious meals can help undernourished children recover, especially during tough economic times.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether giving extra food and nutrition education to families helps malnourished children gain weight and grow better
  • Who participated: 510 children aged 6 months to 5 years who were moderately malnourished in Sri Lanka during the 2023 economic crisis
  • Key finding: Children who received extra food baskets and cooking lessons showed better weight gain and ate more varied foods compared to those getting only standard care
  • What it means for you: During food crises, providing families with extra food plus teaching them how to prepare nutritious meals may help malnourished children recover faster

The Research Details

This was a randomized controlled trial, which means researchers randomly divided 510 malnourished children into two groups to compare different treatments. One group got standard care (regular food assistance and monthly education sessions about breastfeeding and child development). The other group got the same standard care plus extra help: food baskets delivered every two weeks, recipe books, and cooking demonstrations to teach parents how to make nutritious meals at home. The researchers followed both groups for six months to see which approach worked better. They measured the children’s weight and height regularly and tracked how varied their diets were, which helps show if families have enough different types of food to eat.

This study design is important because it helps prove whether the extra food and education actually caused the improvements, rather than other factors. By randomly assigning children to groups and comparing them over time, researchers can be more confident that any differences they see are due to the intervention.

This study has several strengths: it included a good number of children (510), followed them for a reasonable time period (6 months), and used random assignment to reduce bias. However, readers should know this was done during a specific crisis in one country, so results might be different in other situations.

What the Results Show

The main finding was that children who received extra food baskets and nutrition education showed significantly better weight-for-height improvements compared to children getting only standard care. This means they were more likely to reach a healthier weight for their height. The intervention group also had much better dietary diversity, meaning these families were able to eat a wider variety of foods, which is important for getting all the nutrients children need to grow. The study measured this using standard growth charts that compare children to healthy peers of the same age.

Interestingly, while the extra help improved weight-for-height ratios and food variety, it didn’t show significant differences in other growth measures like stunting (being too short for age) or being underweight overall. This suggests that while the intervention helped with immediate weight gain, it may take longer or different approaches to address longer-term growth problems.

This study adds to existing research showing that combining food assistance with nutrition education tends to work better than just giving food alone. It’s particularly valuable because it was conducted during an actual economic crisis, which makes the findings more relevant for emergency situations where many children face malnutrition.

The study was conducted in one specific country during a particular crisis, so the results might not apply everywhere. Also, six months might not be long enough to see improvements in stunting, which develops over longer periods. The researchers couldn’t control for all the different factors that might affect child nutrition during an economic crisis.

The Bottom Line

Based on this research, providing extra food along with teaching parents how to prepare nutritious meals appears to help malnourished children gain weight more effectively than standard care alone. However, this approach may work best as part of broader nutrition programs rather than as a standalone solution.

This research is most relevant for families facing food insecurity, public health officials designing nutrition programs, and organizations working in crisis situations. Parents of well-nourished children shouldn’t worry, but those concerned about their child’s growth should consult healthcare providers.

The study showed improvements in weight and dietary variety within six months, but addressing longer-term growth issues like stunting may require more time and comprehensive interventions.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track your child’s weight weekly and monitor how many different food groups they eat each day (fruits, vegetables, grains, proteins, dairy)
  • Focus on increasing dietary variety by trying to include foods from at least 4-5 different food groups in your child’s daily meals, and learn new recipes for nutritious, affordable meals
  • Log weekly weight measurements and daily food variety scores, watching for steady weight gain and consistent inclusion of diverse food groups over several months

This research was conducted during a specific economic crisis and may not apply to all situations. Always consult with healthcare providers or registered dietitians for personalized advice about child nutrition and growth concerns. Do not make significant changes to a child’s diet without professional guidance.