More than five million Vietnamese children under the age of five are suffering from some type of nutritional disorder, Dr Do Thi Ngoc Diep, director of the Ho Chi Minh City Nutrition Center, has warned.

The doctor released her warning at a seminar held yesterday by the center in HCMC to discuss ways to help children become taller. 

Common nutritional disorders include obesity and being underweight or stunted. These disorders can affect the height of children as they grow, Diep said.

Besides genetic factors, lifestyle and the environment also help determine how tall a boy or girl will be, she said.

Eating a proper diet and regularly exercising will help children improve their height.

Children who live in a noisy environment and have trouble sleeping as a result will have their height affected.

A diet containing all of the nutrients that are necessary for a child’s physical and mental development should be provided, Diep said.

In addition, children should physically move outdoors for at least 60 minutes a day, she advised.

A child’s height begins to develop in the womb, with the most growth lasting until puberty, after which height development is not significant.  

Currently, the average height of Vietnamese is 163.7 cm (5.4 feet) for men and 153 cm (5 feet) for women, much lower than the averages in other countries in the region as well around the world, said To Thi Kim Hoa, deputy director of the city Health Department.