Diets For Kids

More Kids Eating Calorie-Packed Takeout Food

These foods are high in sugar and calories, and increased popularity means the young are more calories than needed, the researchers noted.

Since 1994, this trend has grown rapidly, reflecting the availability of fast food restaurants and prepared foods in supermarkets and other food stores, the researchers say. In fact, the calories consumed away from home increased by 23.4 percent to 33.9 percent between 1977 and 2006.

"We found that children eating a relatively maintained calories at home, but most children eat as a growing number of calories out," said study author Jennifer Poti, the Gillings School of the University of the global public health. "Eating out of the house is actually fuel the increased energy intake for children."

Poti said most children eat food from outside comes from prepared foods sold in supermarkets and convenience stores and fast food restaurants. Many children eat fast food is actually consumed at home, Poti said.In 2006, nearly half of children eat fast food were eaten at home, she said.

Although the reasons for the increase in eating meals is not known, Poti speculates that a combination of factors, including pressures convenience, cost and time.

This trend is adding to the obesity epidemic, Poti said. "Parents need to be interested in both the source of food and where it is consumed, which both significantly influence energy intake," she said.

The report is published in the August issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

For the study, the team of Poti has collected data on 29 217 children aged 2 to 18. They took part in two surveys of food consumption in the country, the Continuing Survey of food intakes by individuals or to one of two nationally representative surveys of food intake in the United States. These surveys collected data at different times between 1977 and 2006, the study said.

The researchers found that from 1977 to 2006 the number of children calories obtained from food eaten away from home has increased significantly. In fact, the percentage of calories obtained from children fast food was more important than they are in school.

Samantha Heller, a dietician, nutritionist, exercise physiologist and coordinator of clinical nutrition at the Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital in Derby, Conn., said that "in our hectic, time challenged the world parents are convinced that it is easier and cheaper to eat take-out, fast food and restaurants.

Counseling for New Moms Can Sway Kids' Eating Habits – Health OMG!

Friday, Oct. 22 (HealthDay News) - nutritional advice for new mothers can help reduce the risk of child obesity, according to new research.

American and Brazilian researchers looked at 345 low-income mother-infant pairs in Brazil that were randomly assigned to either an intervention or control group.

Mothers in the intervention group received 10 home counseling for the year after they gave birth. During the visits, the mothers received advice on breastfeeding and introduction of appropriate complementary foods.They also advised to avoid energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods such as soft drinks, candy, salty snacks and fried foods.

The children were assessed when they were 6 months, 12-16 months and 3-4 years. At the end of the study, only 10 percent of all children in the study had healthy eating habits.

However, those in the intervention group ate more fruits and vegetables and has a more varied diet. They also consumed lower amounts of cholesterol-rich foods.

Children who consumed the worst regimes were more likely to be obese than those with the healthiest of diets - 34 percent against20 percent.

The researchers concluded that nutritional counseling for mothers during the first year of their child's life can strongly influence the eating habits of children. These findings may have important implications for public health policy.

The study appears in the November issue of The Journal of Nutrition.

More

The American Academy of Pediatrics has more about child nutrition.

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