The term “Standard American Diet” refers to a diet, which is:
• High in animal fats
• High in unhealthy fats
• Low in fiber
• High in processed foods
• Low in complex carbohydrates
• Low in plant-based foods
It is a little bit different for children as their diet may not consist of so much meat and animal fats, but it is definitely very high in processed foods, and low in fiber as well as in fruits and vegetables.
The standard American died has extremely serious consequences on our current and future generations. What children eat during their younger years is negatively affecting their health and setting them up for health concerns and chronic diseases later in life.
The paradox in the United States is that our children are being overfed and undernourished at the same time. Proper nutrition is essential to children’s health. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2012 more than one-third of children and adolescents aged 6 to 19 were considered overweight or obese (1).
Most of obese children suffer from the emotional consequences, such as poor body image and low self-esteem.
And still, nowadays, many children’s diets lack good healthy nutritious choices. More than 90% of children aged 4 to 18 don’t meet recommendations for vegetable intake, and more than 75% don’t meet guidelines for fruit intake. Moreover, more than 90% of children consume more than the recommended amounts of solid fats and added sugars (2).
Having said that there is a lot of
These snacks are offered freely and never forced upon a child. We’re not to bring in unhealthy snacks for ourselves or eat in front of the children, and if we have unhealthy food it must be kept in a cupboard hidden and put away.
Children and young people’s health and development is closely linked to their dietary choice as they need the right amount of nutrients necessary to keep their energy and to maintain the body for growth, tissue repair, healthy skin, hair and teeth, red blood cells and strong immune system.
Health issues like obesity are rampant due to low levels of nutrition in food served in public schools. Childhood obesity is a serious disaster in today's world as it is on the reverse spectrum of as eating disorders such as bulimia or anorexia nervosa, but still carries with it serious health implications that can affect an individual throughout their lifetime. One specific factor playing a role in childhood obesity is the fact that the food eaten by children is not nutritious.
Many Americans are suffering from nutrition issues. There are approximately 12.5 million children and adolescents aged 2-19 years that are obese (CDC). The proper health and nutrition for children is very critical to their growth and development. The media and its promotion of junk food is one way that affects obese children. Within this paper, I will discuss the long and short term impacts of obesity on children, their growth and development, describe a specific child who is affected by obesity, and give three ways to combat obesity that involves collaboration among schools, families, and communities.
Children from low socio-economic status are eating high energy-dense, high-fat foods because their parents cannot afford to buy fresh fruit and vegetables, or, it is simply not practical, especially to families who do their shopping monthly, since they are highly
A major part of any culture is food and dining, and children are a part of that. Children often lose some of their appetite between ages two and six, and because parents worry, bad food habits are put into place. Sugary foods are offered if a child finishes a meal, and many foods have vitamins and nutrients added. However iron, zinc, and calcium are seen to be deficient because juices and sodas are replacing milk, and cereals and processed foods replace fresh fruits and vegetables (Berger, 2006). It is also hard to maintain good eating habits during this age, because children often
Childhood obesity is the most common pediatric nutritional disorder in the United States (Balog, 2015). Most people believe that the solution to stopping childhood obesity relies entirely on education. Sadly, this is not true. While education is one of the main factors for solving this epidemic, there are many other factors that need to be resolved as well. One cannot rely on the simplistic idea that, once educated, Americans would make the healthiest choices. This is because Americans choose, buy, and consume their food based heavily on the taste, convenience, and economic motivations, not health reasons.
Childhood obesity has gained a lot of attention in the recent years especially the 21st century. It is a disease that has beset the lives of so many people around the world for decades. It is considered the most essential health concerns today. The focus of obesity has been shifted to concentrate on the obesity in children. Childhood obesity is on the rise at an alarming rate, especially in poverty stricken communities. Schools, parents and children themselves are all being held responsible for this heart wrenching disease. Food choices are high on the list of reasons for childhood obesity among children. According to the Center for Disease control and Prevention, (2016), the prevalence of obesity has remained is
Initially, children’s diets should be regulated, because these days there are too many children facing obesity. To begin with, obesity amongst children continues to grow and it needs to be stopped. Specifically, according to “Time for Kids; Obesity Rates Falling” from 1980 to 2000 the percentage of obese kids in the US ages 9-10 tripled. Obviously, obesity is growing at a much faster rate amongst adolescents so their diets need to be regulated. Additionally, obesity in children can be severely harmful at young age. For instance, being overweight can lead to problems like heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. It is clear that, if obesity continues with children like this diseases that used to only be common in
Many families today face a pandemic as the prevalence of childhood obesity has more than doubled since the 1970s. There is a growing number of healthcare professionals who believe this increase is due to the lack of physical activity, energy dense and additive rich foods and over-consumption. Food is essential to what we need to live. The nutrients we get from food keeps us alive and well. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported that over 25 million people in America have been diagnosed with diabetes. Of that number, 215,000 are children and 69% are overweight and obese.
In addition to the adverse health effects obese children are also more likely to face emotional and psychological problems because of social stigmas and discrimination they may face from their peers, and maybe even their own family. This can lead to a high occurrence of low self-esteem and depression in such children (Braet, 1997).
In today's fast-paced world, most parents make the mistake of feeding their children unhealthy food, which may not be the brightest idea, considering the fact that it can be very harmful to your kid's health. However, when it comes to healthy food and nutrition, many parents find it difficult to choose what is good for their children and what they can do to get them healthier. Not to worry, Nutrition4kids offers a reliable and expert guide to learning about and making the right food choices for your kids. From finding the right predigested formula to expert nutrition advice, you get everything and then some more only with Nutrition4kids.
Children are like sponges and they will mimic anything a beloved adult will do. We, as the adult nation, are generally out of shape. We have become more reliant on convenience foods that hold little nutritional value. With the rising cost of produce and the recent FDA safety scares it might
One of the most important aspects of a child’s life is maintaining a healthy diet. Eating healthy foods will allow a child to grow and develop in the best way possible. In modern days, however, children are increasing their consumption of junk food. Parents play a huge role in these children’s eating habits as children are normally not aware of the differences between nutritious food and junk food. Hence, parents should monitor what their child consumes to ensure that they are in good shape. Eating junk food, without moderation, could lead to severely harmful impacts on a child’s life.
The importance of establishing health promoting practices during childhood and adolescence has long been recognized by nutritionists and other health professionals. The purpose of this paper is to investigate further the issues relating to adolescents' diets and contributing factors. Contributing factors include the increase of fast food consumption, unconventional meal patterns and lack of exercise. During adolescence, the influences on eating habits are numerous. The growing independence of adolescents, increased participation in social life and a generally busy schedule of activities have a great impact on food intake.�In the September 2007 issue of 'Health Promotion