NNI Workshop Series

According to the World Health Organization, the early child period, i.e., from birth to 5 years of age, is considered the most important developmental phase throughout the lifespan.

Lactation is a defining characteristic of all mammals, and, indeed, mammals draw their name from mammae, or mammary glands. The evolution of mammary glands has been the subject of debate since Charles Darwin.

Malnutrition among children remains a persistent problem around the world. The latest UNICEF data reports that nearly half of all deaths in children under 5 years of age can be attributed to undernutrition. Poor linear growth, or stunting, affects over 150 million children around the world.

Uncovering the role of nutrition education in improving the quality of life in individuals, families, including education of parents and caregivers, children in day care and schools. Recognizing the importance of nutrition education for healthcare professionals and understanding the critical impact of nutrition education in the public health sector.

Infant and childhood nutrition form the basis of an individual’s health in later life. Multiple lines of evidence – from experimental to epidemiological – are converging to highlight the importance of this early period for metabolic programming, physiological growth and cognition.

Human milk presents the optimal nutrition for infants and is key to sustaining health and building the foundation for growth and cognitive development.

It is now well understood around the world that good nutrition plays a major role in the health of individuals, at all stages of development and life.

Over the last decade, major attention in clinical research has been focused on the importance of the intestinal microbiome in health and disease, especially during the first one thousand days.