There are many reasons people choose to serve fast food to their children, but the benefits of taste, affordability and convenience, may not outweigh the risks. Experts agree that poor nutrition in childhood has serious effects on their health later in life. According to a 2007-2008 study by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 10 percent of children age 2 to 5 are obese, 20 percent of children age 6 to 11 are obese and 18 percent of children age 12 to 19 are obese, and these numbers are increasing annually. The problem of childhood obesity has been deemed a serious problem by doctors, nutrition experts and U.S. government officials alike. As a result, studies on proper nutrition for children are ongoing.
Nutritional Needs of Growing Children
According to the National Institutes of Health, a healthy diet for your children does more than give them the essential nutrients they need to grow, learn and fight disease. A healthy diet and good eating habits in childhood help to prevent obesity and complications such as high cholesterol, hear disease and diabetes later in life. While nutrition and vitamin requirements vary by age, as a general rule, children old enough to be eating solid foods should be getting a minimum of five servings of fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, water or milk and fiber filled whole-grains daily. The National Institutes of Health further recommends avoiding or limiting fried foods, including fast food and junk foods such as sugar filled drinks. Unfortunately, very few fast food meals offer good nutrition or a balanced meal.
Fast Food Nutrition
Despite advertisements for healthy options at most fast food restaurants today, the reality is that most fast food is low in nutrition and high in trans fat, saturated fat, sodium, and calories. In some instances, a fast food meal contains more calories, sodium and fat than should be consumed for the entire day. In an effort to educate their customers, most of the major fast food chains provide nutrition info. Some of these fast food chains have even started providing alternatives to french fires such as fruit and vegetables in child-friendly portions. Unnecessary fat, sugar and calories can be reduced by selecting fruit instead of fries and milk or water instead of soft drinks. According to the Ask Dr. Sears website, the typical American diet includes too much fast food and processed foods. These foods are dangerous to children and their development because they are high in saturated, hydrogenated and animal fats and low in fiber, complex carbohydrates and fruit and vegetables. Poor nutrition has been linked to behavioral issues, learning problems, weight problems and weakened immune systems in children.
Risks of an Unbalanced Diet
Countless studies show that eating fast food on a regular basis can lead to a host of health problems, both physical and psychological. According to a study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, among children aged 13 to 18, the consumption of fast food was associated with poor diet quality and the intake of higher calories. Specifically, when not eating at home, children eat an average of 65 to 107 more calories per meal. Most experts agree that children who eat fast food are more likely to be overweight. Children in other parts of the world who eat a diet that is the opposite of that of the typical American child have lower rates of cancer and coronary artery disease later in life. These diets are low in fat and high in complex carbohydrates, fruits, vegetables, and fiber.
What the Research Shows
In 2004, The National Institutes of Health published a study on the effects of fast food on 6,212 children and adolescents in the United States ages 4 to 19 years old . The study found that on a normal day, 30.3 percent of the group ate fast food. This rate of consumption was found to be high in both genders, all ethnic groups and regions of the United States. The study concluded that the risk for obesity was increased among children that consumed fast food. Another study conducted by The National Institutes of Health concluded that there was a significant correlation between the proximity to fast food restaurants and the risk of stroke in the surrounding neighborhoods. In fact, the study found that the risk of stroke in a neighborhood increased by 1 percent for every fast food restaurant in the area.
Considerations
Experts agree, moderation is the key for a healthy diet and healthy children. Ask your pediatrician about the best nutritional plan for you and your family. Only your doctor can make specific dietary recommendations that are appropriate your children. By combining exercise with a healthy diet, children are less likely to struggle with weight gain, low self-esteem and health problems in childhood and are even more likely to maintain healthy habits later in life. Doctors agree, healthy living for children and adults alike relies on balance both in diet and in life.
References
- National Institutes of Health : Child Nutrition
- The Fast Food Explorer: Fat and Calories
- Ask Dr Sears : Standard American Diet (SAD)
- United States Department of Agriculture : How Food Away From Home Affects Children's Diet Quality
- National Institutes of Health : Effects of fast-food consumption on energy intake and diet quality among children in a national household survey
- National Institutes of Health : Fast Food and Neighborhood Stroke Risk
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