Abbott’s Growth Watch Empowers Parents to Beat Childhood Stunting

• Childhood stunting is a health issue in the Philippines, and 2 in 3 moms are unaware of the long-term effects of stunting on childhood growth
• The Growth Watch initiative aims to accelerate efforts to help parents identify children’s growth issues early, seek treatment and prevent malnutrition 
• Abbott is banding with communities to raise awareness, and offer online tools, educational resources, nutrition assessment and counselling to promote childhood growth

Dr. Jose Rodolfo Dimaano, Jr., Abbott Medical Director for Asia Pacific (middle), along with Registered Nutritionist-Dietitian Justinne Go, (left) and Cebu Mom Influencer Toni Pino-Oca (right) debunk common Filipino myths and misconceptions, promoting the importance of early and consistent growth monitoring and intervention.

MANILA, Philippines, 7 November 2024 — Global statistics show childhood malnutrition is still a persistent health burden, including in the Philippines. According to the Department of Health, 1 in 4 children aged five and below are short for their age or stunted. Abbott is increasing awareness and working together with mom celebrities and communities to tackle stunting among children in the Philippines. Abbott’s Growth Watch initiative shines a light on childhood stunting, a form of malnutrition. It aims to empower parents to screen for and recognize stunting in their children so that they can improve their children’s nutrition if needed.

Stunting can challenge a child’s development, impact their overall health, and limit their future potential. Children affected by stunting can be at risk of significant immune deficiencies, compromised cognitive function, behavioral problems, diminished bone health, and decreased muscle mass.,,, The Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition 2023-2028 identified poor feeding practices and low nutrition literacy among the causes of malnutrition in the country. Additionally, 2 in 3 Filipino moms don’t recognize stunting as an important child development issue.

Dr. Jose Rodolfo Dimaano, Jr. showing the Growth Watch height chart during the "Maximize Your Child's Growth Potential" Dine & Learn session at Te'Amo Café, Hotel One, Cebu City, showcasing tools for accurate growth tracking and early intervention.

"There is a clear need to educate parents on the prevalence and impact of childhood stunting on growth and development," explains Dr. Jose Dimaano Jr., nutrition medical affairs director for Abbott in Pacific Asia. "Early identification of growth issues and quick intervention for children found to be at risk of nutrition deficiency can have a profound impact on the fight against stunting. This is why Abbott is taking a multidisciplinary approach in supporting parents by working with communities and healthcare practitioners to provide tools and information to spot the signs of malnutrition and take action."

In collaborating with celebrity moms, influencers and online mom communities, Abbott intends to increase awareness of stunting and support parents with tools and educational resources that can help children reach their full growth potential.

 
''Since its inception in 2021, Growth Watch has educated and reached more than 161,000 families, and the goal is to double the reach by the end of next year,'' said Angelico Escobar, general manager of Abbott’s nutrition business in the Philippines. ''Abbott is driven by our mission to help children have a healthy start and reach their optimal growth. We know that malnutrition is complex and affects children’s growth across all socioeconomic classes. The work of Growth Watch is one of Abbott’s efforts to fight global malnutrition and to help children achieve their growth potential through measurement and proper nutrition.''

Abbott brings the Maximize Your Child's Growth Potential Dine & Learn session to Cebu, joined by media partners, mom bloggers, and influencers, to discuss the crucial role of parents in advocating for children's health and nutrition. The “Fact or Myth” engagement activity, held during the event provided a unique opportunity to evaluate common myths and misconceptions about child growth.

In 2021, Abbott launched the Abbott Center for Malnutrition Solutions, an initiative to reduce malnutrition. The center, a collaboration between Abbott and external experts and partners, is focused on the identification, treatment and prevention of malnutrition for the most vulnerable populations in the world including children, aging adults and under-resourced populations. The Growth Watch initiative also contributes toward Abbott's 2030 Sustainability Plan goal to transform care for malnutrition, chronic and infectious diseases.

As part of the Growth Watch initiative, parents and guardians are invited to join mom communities to establish the habit of measuring their children’s height, and provide proper nutrition to safeguard the growth, well-being and development of children across the country. Tools and resources available include:

• PediaSure Plus Growth Calculator
• PediaSure Plus Height Chart
• Free growth assessment and nutrition counseling

Nutrition plays a crucial role in addressing malnutrition and stunting challenges. Addressing undernutrition early can help mitigate growth issues and ensure children reach their full developmental capacity. For children who do not get enough nutrients through food alone, nutrition supplements, such as PediaSure Plus, can help fill some of the gaps. The oral nutritional supplement, recommended by doctors, is formulated with 37 key growth nutrients including natural vitamin K2 and arginine to support 1.5 times faster growth in 8 weeks and strong bones.6

For more information on the growth tools and resources, visit https://www.family.abbott/ph-en/pediasure/tools-and-resources.html.

For free growth assessment and nutrition counseling, register online or by calling Abbott’s Careline - Metro Manila: (02) 8995-1555​ and PLDT toll free hotline: 1-800-10-995-1555.