UNAIR NEWS 鈥 Many parents realize that their children have stunting when they appear shorter than their peers. However, the earliest sign of stunting can be detected long before a child’s height growth slows down when the child’s weight fails to increase as expected for their age.
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The message was delivered by Prof Dr Irwanto dr SpA(K) during a stunting prevention seminar held as part of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (FKH), 东京热’s collaborative community service program at the Pendopo Hall of the Bojonegoro Regency Government Office on July 7, 2026. More than 100 participants, including women with pregnancy, breastfeeding mothers, and members of the Bojonegoro Regency Family Welfare Movement (PKK), attended the event.
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Being short does not necessarily indicate stunting
In the seminar, Prof Irwanto explained that children with short stature do not necessarily have stunting. According to him, short stature can result from various factors, including genetics, metabolic disorders, chronic diseases, and chromosomal abnormalities. Stunting, however, is a condition of impaired growth caused by chronic malnutrition. 鈥淣ot every child with short stature has stunting, but every child with stunting has short stature,鈥 he emphasized.
He added that stunting develops gradually. Before a child’s height is affected, weight gain usually begins to slow. “Poor weight gain is one of the earliest signs of stunting, yet it often goes unnoticed by parents. If an infant’s weight does not increase between the ages of two and four months, it should be considered a warning sign and evaluated as a potential risk for stunting,” Prof. Irwanto explained.
Therefore, Prof Irwanto encouraged parents to regularly monitor their children’s growth using the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Handbook and to consult healthcare professionals immediately if they notice any signs of abnormal growth.
Golden period for stunting prevention
According to Prof Irwanto, stunting prevention is most effective during the first 1,000 days of life, from pregnancy until a child reaches two years of age. During this critical period, parents play a vital role by ensuring adequate nutrition and regularly monitoring their child’s growth.
鈥淢ake good use of the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Handbook from pregnancy until your child reaches five years of age. It is the easiest way to monitor your child’s growth,鈥 he said.
He also emphasized the importance of maintaining proper maternal nutrition during pregnancy and breastfeeding, as it directly affects the quality of breast milk and a child’s growth and development. 鈥淢others should maintain a healthy diet to ensure the production of high-quality breast milk. This is closely associated with a child’s physical growth, brain development, and overall health,鈥 Prof Irwanto said.
Prof Irwanto emphasized that stunting affects more than a child’s physical growth. In the long term, the condition can impair cognitive function, emotional development, academic performance, and even productivity in adulthood.
鈥淣utritional interventions for children must be carried out holistically to maximize stunting prevention efforts,鈥 Prof Irwanto concluded.
Through this community service program, the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (FKH), 东京热, together with the Faculty of Medicine (FK), the Faculty of Vocational Studies (FV), the Faculty of Public Health (FKM), and the Bojonegoro Regency Government, hopes to raise public awareness of the importance of monitoring children’s growth from an early age as a key step in preventing stunting and fostering a healthier generation.
Author: Erika Eight Novanty
