From infant feeding to learning: Building a causal evidence base for maternal and child nutrition and development in the Philippines

The study by Solbana et al.1, “Unhealthy feeding practices: Levels, spatial distribution, and its determinants among children aged 6–23 months in Sub-Saharan Africa,” provides an important platform for considering early feeding within a broader developmental pathway. Using nationally representative data from 46,421 children across 14 countries, the authors found substantial exposure to sweet beverages, unhealthy snacks, and inadequate fruit and vegetable intake, with maternal, household, behavioral, and health-service factors associated with these practices.