Children ages two to eight years across 11 Pacific jurisdictions—including Hawaiʻi—are not meeting daily recommended intakes for key micronutrients (essential vitamins and minerals needed in small amounts for health), either consuming too much or too little.
That discovery was published recently in a study led by scientists at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, and covered the jurisdictions of Alaska, American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Hawaiʻi, Marshall Islands and Palau. The research team also found associations between children's micronutrient intake, obesity and the presence of acanthosis nigricans, a skin condition that is a hallmark of type 2 diabetes development.
"Nutritional intake during childhood can shape health and well-being throughout life. Although excess intake of macronutrients, such as carbohydrates and fats, is considered the main driver of obesity development, micronutrients, such as minerals and vitamins, can positively or negatively affect the processes that lead to obesity. So, understanding the micronutrient intake relationship to childhood obesity can guide precision interventions to address nutritional needs throughout the United States–Affiliated Pacific (USAP) region," said co-lead author Lucia Seale, associate professor at the Pacific Biosciences Research Center in the UH Mānoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST).
Seale, co-lead Ashley Yamanaka, assistant director and assistant researcher at the Children's Healthy Living Center of Excellence (CHL Center) based in the UH Mānoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience (CTAHR), and co-authors from the UH Cancer Center , and John A. Burns School of Medicine ; University of Alaska Fairbanks; Northern Marianas College; University of Guam; and American Samoa Community College analyzed food intake data collected by the CHL Center.
Guiding future recommendations
Their findings also highlight specific concerns that require targeted intervention. For example, excessive sodium intake is a widespread issue across the region, posing risks to cardiovascular health. While previous studies have primarily focused on adults, the new research underscores the need to include children in sodium reduction efforts through education and policy initiatives.
"To advance nutritional programs, policies, and improve children's health in Hawaiʻi and the USAP, we need data-driven strategies that are socio-economically and culturally relevant," said Seale. "This study plays a crucial role in generating scientific evidence necessary to inform these targeted approaches. It represents an essential first step in shaping policies and interventions that reflect the unique needs of our communities, reinforcing UH's commitment to serving the people of Hawaiʻi and the USAP through research that drives meaningful change."
For the entire story, visit the SOEST website .
The post Micronutrient gaps help fuel childhood obesity in Pacific first appeared on University of Hawaiʻi System News .
