- A pediatric expert from FKUI clarifies that milk is often wrongly blamed for childhood obesity and should not be eliminated without proper assessment.
- Despite common misconceptions, milk remains an important source of nutrients that support children’s growth and development.
- Parents are urged to focus on overall dietary balance rather than singling out milk as the cause of weight gain in children.
Jakarta — When children begin to gain excess weight or are diagnosed with obesity, many parents react by immediately cutting milk from their diet. Milk is often blamed as the main contributor to weight gain, leading to the assumption that growing children no longer need it.
However, Prof. Dr. dr. Rini Sekartini, a pediatrician and professor specializing in child growth and social pediatrics at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia (FKUI), has challenged this misconception. She emphasized that eliminating milk from the diet of an obese child is not necessarily the right approach.
“There is a common misunderstanding that when a child is obese, milk should be stopped, even though milk is not the root cause,” Prof. Rini said during the launch of AceKid formula milk by FEIHE International in collaboration with MAKUKU at the Kempinski Grand Ballroom in Central Jakarta on Sunday.
Prof. Rini also reminded the public of the essential nutrients found in milk. Although Indonesia’s health slogan has evolved over time, the role of milk as a complementary source of nutrition remains significant.
“If we recall the old concept of ‘four healthy, five perfect,’ milk completed the nutritional balance,” she explained.
“Today, the terminology has changed, as milk is categorized as part of the protein group,” she added.
As a protein source, milk supports children’s growth and development. Compared to other protein sources such as poultry, meat, or fish, milk offers a range of nutrients that are efficiently absorbed by the body.
Prof. Rini noted that while protein can indeed be obtained from various foods, milk stands out due to its completeness and ease of consumption, particularly for children.
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