Children are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of bad nutrition because their bodies are growing and developing rapidly. A poor diet can lead to serious short- and long-term health problems, which may persist into your child's adult years. Providing your child with healthful nutrition supports his growth and development and lays the foundation for good eating habits to keep him healthy in the future.
Weak Bones
Your child's bones grow longer and gain mass, or bone density, throughout childhood and adolescence. Poor nutrition that lacks adequate amounts of vitamin D, calcium, phosphate and magnesium can cause low bone density in children. This means your child's bones may not gain a normal amount of weight and strength by the time she reaches adulthood. An abnormally low bone density during childhood may increase your child's risk for developing osteoporosis as an adult.
Iron Deficiency Anemia
If your child does not eat sufficient amounts of iron-rich foods, such as meat, poultry, eggs, leafy vegetables, fortified cereal and beans, he may develop iron deficiency anemia. Infants and young children who drink excessive amounts of cow's milk --- an iron-poor food --- and exclude other nutritious foods are at increased risk for iron deficiency anemia. The American Academy of Family Physicians recommends limiting your child's consumption of cow's milk to less than three 8-oz. glasses per day. Symptoms of iron deficiency anemia include pale skin, shortness of breath, lack of energy, poor appetite and irritability.
Overweight and Obesity
Childhood obesity rates in the United States tripled between 1980 and 2008, reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. High-calorie diets that include excess fat and sugar combined with physical inactivity contribute to the development of childhood obesity. Children who are overweight or obese are at increased risk for serious health problems during childhood, including type 2 diabetes, sleep disorders, asthma and joint and bone abnormalities. Mental health issues for overweight and obese children also prove common, including poor self-esteem and isolation or ridicule from other children. Providing your child with healthful meals, encouraging physical activity and limiting the amount of fast foods, soft drinks, candy and snack foods in his diet help ensure good nutrition and reduce his risk for obesity or being overweight.
Tooth Decay
Sugary snacks and beverages in your child's diet may increase her risk of developing cavities in her baby and permanent teeth. Cavities form when bacteria in the mouth feed on sugars left behind after eating or drinking. Untreated cavities are a serious problem for children, causing pain and difficulty eating. School attendance and performance may suffer in children with poor oral health. Consumption of soft drinks, beverages made from sugary powders and 100 percent fruit juice significantly increases the risk of tooth decay among children, report Teresa A. Marshall, Ph.D., R.D., of the University of Iowa College of Dentistry and colleagues in a September 2003 article published in the journal "Pediatrics." The authors note that poor dietary intake of vitamins D and B-12, copper and riboflavin also increases a child's risk of tooth decay.
References
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Surgeon General: Bone Health and Osteoporosis
- NIH Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases National Resource Center: Kids and Their Bones: A Guide for Parents
- FamilyDoctor.org: Iron Deficiency Anemia in Infants and Children: How to Prevent It
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Childhood Obesity
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Nutrition and the Health of Young People
- "Pediatrics"; Dental Caries and Beverage Consumption in Young Children Teresa A. Marshall, Ph.D., R.D., et al.; September 2003
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