Without a balanced diet, children can't develop correctly. Like adults, young people need to eat foods from all the major food groups, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, dairy and meats. But too many children and teenagers eat processed foods that contain large amounts of fat and sugar instead of foods that supply nutrients. Consequences of poor nutrition include inhibited development and higher risk of diseases. If bad habits continue into adulthood, health progressively worsens.
Excessive Weight Gain
Sugary and high-fat foods provide little health benefit, leaving youths undernourished and lacking important nutrients. For example, without enough calcium in their diets, young people will not develop strong bones. "Up to 90 percent of peak bone mass is acquired by age 18 in girls and age 20 in boys," according to the National Institutes of Health. Underdeveloped bones during childhood can lead to problems later in life, such as osteoporosis.
Unhealthy foods, however, do provide many calories. If children don't exercise enough to burn off extra calories, they are at risk for obesity.
Effects of Obesity on Health
High blood pressure, high cholesterol, joint problems, asthma and overall poor health can all stem from obesity. Atherosclerosis, or the deposit of fatty material along the walls of your arteries, can start in childhood, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As the buildup, or plaque, hardens, the arteries narrow and blood flow slows. If a piece of plaque breaks off and clogs an artery, a heart attack or stroke can result.
Obese children also have an increased chance of developing type 2 diabetes, a condition in which the body can't produce enough insulin or the cells ignore insulin. Insulin plays a key role in transporting glucose to cells for energy. Diabetics must monitor what they eat to prevent high blood sugar levels and to minimize the risk of future complications, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, blindness and hearing loss.
Unhealthy Weight Loss
Young people may also adopt unhealthy dieting practices to decrease their weight. Typical problems include fasting, bulimia and anorexia, which can lead to malnutrition and poor health. A nationwide survey of high school students by the CDC in 2009 found that unhealthy dieting practices are prevalent. In the 30 days leading up to the survey, about 11 percent of the students said they fasted for 24 hours or more; 4 percent vomited or took laxatives to achieve weight loss; and 5 percent took diet powders, pills or liquids without medical supervision.
Decreased Academic Performance
Public health efforts might help children receive proper nutrition, according to a study published in the July 2001 issue of "Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics." The study observed school-aged children and found that a lack of proper nutrition can lead to behavioral and academic problems. For example, children ages 6 to 11 who did not eat sufficient amounts of food had significantly lower arithmetic scores, were more likely to repeat a grade or see a psychologist and had trouble getting along with other children. Teenagers who lacked proper nutrition also had trouble getting along with other youths and were more likely to have seen a psychologist. In addition, they had a higher chance of having been suspended from school.
References
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Nutrition and the Health of Young People; June 3, 2010
- "Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics"; Food Insufficiency and American School-Aged Children's Cognitive, Academic and Psychosocial Developments; Katherine Alaim, et al.; July 2001
- NIH Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases National Resource Center; Kids and Their Bones: A Guide for Parents; January 2011
- MedlinePlus; Atherosclerosis; May 26, 2010
- American Diabetes Association: Type 2
