Physical growth, infant nutrition, breastfeeding, and general nutrition

A constant in the practice of general pediatrics is an emphasis on infant nutrition and monitoring of growth. These topics are the focus of this issue's "Office pediatrics" section. Much of the new research and publication concerning nutrition in childhood in the past year continues to focus on breastfeeding-its short-term and long-term benefits and strategies to increase the number of women who successfully nurse their infants. The documentation of breastfeeding's benefits is becoming increasingly strong, even in developed countries such as the United States. At the same time, the many weaknesses in the health care system's support of this important health-promoting behavior continue to be documented. Separate from breastfeeding per se, additional articles examining the state of nutrition among children in the United States show that despite our relative affluence, malnutrition remains prevalent. The poor and the chronically ill appear particularly vulnerable to inadequate nutrition and should remain a focus of our efforts at nutritional monitoring and support.