For schoolchildren, lunchtime is an opportunity to take a mental break and refuel for the remainder of the day. However, low-nutrient, high-fat foods offered in many school cafeterias have many parents wondering if their child's lunch is...
According to the Center for Disease Control's National Center for Health Statistics, problems with obesity can affect children as young as two, with 11 percent of 2- to 5-year-olds being considered obese. Additionally, 15 percent of 6- to...
You may think it's no big deal to allow your child to have a cola drink now and again, but in allowing your child to indulge in soda, you're also introducing him to caffeine. While a little caffeine is virtually harmless for an adult, the same...
A varied diet is especially important for children, whose bodies and minds are growing from the time they are born. Following the new MyPyramid food guidelines along with regular daily exercise ensures children receive the necessary variety of...
The average US teenager spends three hours and 20 minutes watching television every day, according to a 2009 Nielson report on teen media use. Thirty-seven percent of teenagers access the Internet with their cellphones, and they average 96 texts...
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, the prevalence of obesity has increased drastically in all age groups in what it calls a national health epidemic. Thanks to ongoing research, the rise of overweight and obese children...
Fast food is an easy and quick way to grab a meal on the go. However, eating fast food frequently provides the body with a high amount of calories, saturated and trans-fats and sugar with limited vitamins and minerals. Over time, this can lead to...
Your child has taken an interest in sports, and you want to make sure that she gives it everything she's got on the field. Getting her to that point can take a lot of time and hard work, and there's no guarantee that you or your child will see any...
Even though it's generally not recommended for 13-year-olds to go on a diet, if you are overweight or obese and have a lot of excess belly fat, it's important to make some significant lifestyle changes. Young teens with too much belly fat are more...
According to the New York University Child Study Center, 30 to 45 million American children participate in a school- or community-based athletic program. In 2007 the American Academy of Pediatrics reconfirmed its position that organized sports...
In honor of World Mental Health Day, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon stated in 2008, "Let us recognize that there can be no health without mental health." His speech precipitated an appeal by the World Health Organization for...
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that an 17 percent of U.S. children and adolescents are obese. Children encouraged to develop healthy nutrition and exercise habits avoid the risk of developing conditions such as hypertension...
Children who are obese often become adults who are obese. Eating habits, along with your general level of physical activity, are patterns set in childhood. Your family and environment play an important role in developing your palate and food...
Calcium is necessary for healthy bones and teeth, nerves, release of hormones and muscle contraction. When calcium blood levels are low due to deficiency in the diet, calcium is leached from bones, leading to reduced bone mass. Since approximately...
From 2003 to 2007 the number of fast food ads American adolescents 12 to 17 years old viewed increased by 20.4 percent, according to a 2010 study published in the "Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine." One out of every three children in...
