Equal emphasis on nutrition and exercise during the complementary  feeding period in infants and toddlers

ZHANG Ting; ZHU Zonghan

doi:10.11852/zgetbjzz2026-0310

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Chinese Journal of Child Health Care ›› 2026, Vol. 34 ›› Issue (4) : 357-361. DOI: 10.11852/zgetbjzz2026-0310

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Equal emphasis on nutrition and exercise during the complementary feeding period in infants and toddlers

ZHANG Ting, ZHU Zonghan

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Abstract

This paper focuses on complementary feeding and physical activity in infants and toddlers aged 6 – 23 months, elaborating on their synergistic importance for healthy development.Children′s healthy development should follow the concept of giving equal importance to nutrition and physical activity.Nutrition provides the material basis for growth and development, whereas physical activity provides the signaling stimuli required for various aspects of development.Through shared biological mechanisms, they act synergistically to promote high-quality and comprehensive development in children′s physical growth, physiological function, cognition, behavior, and brain development.This paper highlights the concept and significance of the eat-move strategy, reviews core knowledge on complementary feeding, and outlines specific requirements and practices for physical activity at different age stages.The strategies and methods of integrating nutrition and physical activity may also provide important technical support for the Five Health Promotion Initiative.

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nutrition / feeding / physical activity / complementary feeding / infants and toddlers

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ZHANG Ting, ZHU Zonghan. Equal emphasis on nutrition and exercise during the complementary feeding period in infants and toddlers[J]. Chinese Journal of Child Health Care. 2026, 34(4): 357-361 https://doi.org/10.11852/zgetbjzz2026-0310

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