Atkins Diet for Children

The Atkins diet and other low-carbohydrate diet plans are a popular way for adults to lose weight, but their long-term effects could be bad for children. Dieting isn't recommended for most children, and the restrictive nature of the Atkins plan could deprive your child of key nutrients needed to grow. Always talk to your child's pediatrician before initiating a diet plan.

Atkins Basics

The Atkins diet plan is based on the theory that limiting your refined carbohydrate intake helps your body to burn more fat, rather than using its energy to burn carbohydrates. The diet is broken into phases, with each phase containing different requirements for carbohydrate consumption. In Phase 1, for example, you are only to eat 12 g to 15 g of carbohydrates -- not counting dietary fiber -- per day.

Nutrients

Many of the nutrients recommended for children come from carbohydrate-containing foods. The Atkins diet is heavy on meat, fish and eggs and light on fruits, vegetables and whole grains, which is contrary to the federal guidelines for children's food consumption. Meat is only a small portion of the daily recommended portion sizes for children; the recommended serving sizes of fruits, vegetables and grains, as well as dairy products, are not compatible with the early phases of the Atkins plan.

Atkins Drawbacks

Some public health organizations have taken a stand against high-protein, low-carbohydrate diets such as Atkins for their failure to include whole grains, low-fat dairy products and fresh produce. Following such a diet could put you at increased risk of heart disease, diabetes and certain cancers due to the high amounts of saturated fat and cholesterol you could consume, according to the American Heart Association. Mayo Clinic nutritionist Katherine Zeratsky says low-carb diets could cause nutritional deficiencies or problems associated with low fiber intake, such as constipation or diverticulitis.

Children and Dieting

Most children do not need to diet, as they're still growing and developing. Even slightly overweight children can see health improvements by making small dietary changes -- such as switching from junk food to healthy snacks -- and increasing their physical activity. Your child's pediatrician can help you determine whether your child really needs to lose weight and design a plan for doing so that's tailored to your child's particular needs.