Nutrition and Wellness (weight loss)

Oct. 17, 2009 - PRLog -- Overweight in children is one of the most alarming  health problems in the US today and is incidence of overweight youth continues to increase at an alarming rate. According to the 2003-2004 National Health and  Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), an estimated 17 percent of children and adolescents ages 2-19 years are overweight. This represents a two- to three-fold increase in the rate of overweight children and adolescents over the past thirty years.

Many overweight children are experiencing health problems, especially type 2 diabetes . They are also at risk for future chronic diseases such as osteoarthritis, adult obesity and heart disease.

What Can Parents Do?

What Research is Telling Parents: Child Diet and Eating Behavior
New studies are always coming out that provide doctors with the latest knowledge on all kinds of medical subjects. This section will give you the inside scoop on recent developments in key areas of the nutritional research front to help you raise a healthy child.

EATING TOO MUCH
Preschool-age children who did not regulate how much they ate and drank (especially a high-calorie sugary beverage) during mealtime were more likely to be overweight. Overweight Children may have more trouble controlling their food intake compare to that of children who have a healthy weight.
When given larger portions, most overweight children took larger bites and ate larger quantities than what they normally eat.

What to do? Realize that as a parent, you have a powerful influence over how much your child eats. Feed your child age-appropriate portions, which are usually smaller than those served to adults.

LIMITING FRUIT JUICE
Children who drink too much fruit juice may consume less nutrients needed for growth and development. They may also have more dental caries and and digestion problems. Many studies have linked drinking too much fruit juice with increased risk of childhood overweight.

What to do? The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that 100% fruit juice should be limited to 4-6 ounces per day for children. Incidentally, one 8 ounce cup of 100% fruit juice contains 115 calories, which is approximately the same amount of calories as those found in 1 cup of fruit-flavored beverages or regular soda.


Read full article at: http://www.loss-weight-diet.org/nutrition/nutrition-and-w...

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http://www.loss-weight-diet.org Explains how to cut calories and reduce fat in a diet. Recommendations on achieving and maintaining a healthy weight, and selection of low-calorie, reduced fat foods and beverages. Provides free diet information, and exercise plan, with an explanation of each phase including low carb diets, diet reviews, and other health information