Encyclopedia of Diets - A Guide to Health and Nutrition

Weight-control Information Network (WIN). 1 WIN Way,

Bethesda, MD 20892-3665. Telephone: (877)946-4627

or (202) 828-1025. Fax: (202) 828-1028. Website:

<http://win.niddk.nih.gov>

OTHER

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Children.’’ undated, accessed April 11, 2007.<http://

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier

=4575>

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ‘‘About BMI

for Children and Teens.’’ National Institutes of Health.

August 26, 2006<http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/

bmi/childrens_BMI/about_childrens_BMI.htm>

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ‘‘BMI Percentile

Calculator for Child and Teen.’’ National Institutes of

Health. August 26, 2006<http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/

dnpabmi/Calculator.aspx>

Freemark, Michael. ‘‘Obesity.’’ eMedicine.com, April 25,

2006.<http://www.emedicine.com/ped/topic1699

.htm>

Mayo Clinic Staff. ‘‘Childhood Obesity.’’ MayoClinic.com,

May 31, 2006.<http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/

childhood-obesity/DS00698>

Mayo Clinic Staff. ‘‘Childhood Obesity: Make Weight Loss a

Family Affair.’’ MayoClinic.com, June 30, 2006.

<http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/childhood-

obesity/FL00058>

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of Medicine, April 6, 2007.<http://www.nlm.nih/gov/

medlineplus/obesityinchildren.html>

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and the United States Department of Agriculture.

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2005.<http://www.healthierus.gov/dietaryguidelines>

Tish Davidson, A.M.

Children’s diets

Definition

Because children grow at different rates and at

different times, it becomes harder to distinguish if a

child is overweight compared to establishing over-

weight in adults. To determine if a child is within an

un-healthy weight range, a doctor will use certain

criteria to measure a child’s height and weight. The

body mass index(BMI), expressed as body weight in

kilograms divided by the square of height in meters

(kg/m2), is a weight-for-height index. The BMI is the

standard obesityassessment in adults, and its use

within the pediatric population has limited research

to support its effectiveness is still considered the stand-

ard measure of overweight in children. The Interna-

tional Task Force on Obesity approved that BMI

provides a reasonable index of adiposity and provides

a reliable measure across pediatric age groups.

A children’s BMI score is the criteria used by med-

ical professionals to determine an un-healthy weight.

Any child who’s BMI falls between the 85th and 95th

percentile for age and sex should be evaluated for sec-

ondary complications of obesity, includinghyperten-

sionand dyslipidemias. An extensive change in BMI

would also call for evaluation and possible treatment of

the child. Although the degree of change that indicates

risk has not been defined, an annual increase of three to

four BMI units is thought to reflect concern due to

possible increases in a child’s body fat.

Origins for childhood diets

In the United States and elsewhere in developed

countries, the prevalence of childhood obesityhas

drastically risen in the past several decades.

Since the 1960s, the prevalence of obesity in chil-

dren has been assessed by several nationally represen-

tative surveys. These include the National Health

Examination Survey Cycles I to III and the National

Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys I to III.

Based on these surveys, the obesity among children is

Healthy snack foods for children

• Applesauce cups (unsweetened)


• Apples or pears and low-fat cheese


• Baby carrots and celery


• Bagels pizzas with tomato sauce and melted low-fat cheese


• Baked potato chips or tortilla chips with salsa


• Cereal, dry or with low-fat milk


• Cucumber or zucchini slices


• Dried fruits such as raisins, apple rings, or apricots


• Fresh fruit


• Fruit canned in juice or light syrup


• Fruit juice


• Fruit salad


• Frozen fruit bars


• Frozen grapes


• Low-fat chocolate milk


• Low-fat frozen yogurt with fresh berries


• Low-fat yogurt with fruit


• Nonfat cottage cheese with fruit


• Popcorn, air popped or low-fat microwave


• Pretzels (lightly salted or unsalted) and a glass of low-fat milk


• Raw vegetable sticks with low-fat yogurt dip, cottage cheese or hummus


• Rice cakes with peanut butter


• Smoothies with low-fat milk or yogurt and sliced bananas or
  strawberries


• String cheese and fruit (canned or fresh)


• Vanilla wafers, gingersnaps, graham crackers, animal crackers or fig
  bars and a glass of milk


• Whole-grain crackers or English muffin with peanut butter


• Whole-wheat crackers with cheese or peanut butter

(Illustrated by GGS Information Services/Thomson Gale.)

Children’s diets