Chapter 3: Problem 6
Summarize the role of nutrition in the physical development of infants, including the benefits of breastfeeding. Adequate nutrition is essential for physical development. Malnutrition and undernutrition affect physical aspects of growth and may also affect IQ and school performance. Breastfeeding has distinct advantages over bottle-feeding, including the nutritional completeness of breast milk, its provision of a degree of immunity to certain childhood diseases, and its easy digestibility. In addition, breastfeeding offers significant physical and emotional benefits to both child and mother.