Poor Diet in Youth Affects Long-Term Health

Poor diet and lack of exercise in childhood can damage health in the long-term, says the National Dairy Council (NDC).

Excess body weight is now the most prevalent childhood disease in Europe, affecting 1 in 6 children. In Ireland, almost a quarter of 5-12 year olds are overweight or obese.

“The evidence indicates that many Irish children are gaining weight because of poor dietary and lifestyle habits which can damage their health, both in the short term and later in adult life,” says Dr. Catherine Logan, Nutritionist with the National Dairy Council.

The immediate and short-term problems that overweight and obese children may experience include type 2 diabetes; respiratory problems such as asthma; cardiovascular problems; orthopaedic problems; isolation and psychological effects.

The most important long-term consequences of childhood obesity is its persistence into adulthood with many studies showing that BMI (Body Mass Index) in childhood is significantly related to BMI in adulthood.

Recent studies by the National Task Force on Obesity have shown that many Irish children and teenagers are eating the wrong balance of foods, exposing them to health risks and nutrient deficiencies. Studies show that our children’s diets are too high in fat, sugar and salt and low in calcium, vitamins, iron and folic acid.

Physical inactivity in childhood is also a serious concern because habits established in childhood may continue to adulthood. It is generally accepted that children should be involved in at least 60 minutes of moderate physical activity each day.

“Energy balance is determined by physical activity as well as calorie intake, so it is also very important for parents to think about how much exercise their children – or the entire family – can include as part of a busy lifestyle,” says Dr. Logan. “With the increased use of cars and labour saving devices, there has been a decline in rates of “passive exercise”, those activities which use our energy as a part of everyday life.”

The National Dairy Council (NDC) has a Dairy Den for parents of young children with information on weaning, nutrition for pre-school children (1-4 years) and school aged children including suggested meal plans (www.ndc.ie).

The NDC nutritional team has also produced general fact sheets which are relevant to everyone but with parents particularly encouraged to read them in light of recent trends. The Guide to Healthy Eating and a Guide to Weight Loss are available free of charge (tel 01-6169726) or visit www.ndc.ie.

Posted Thursday 21st August 2008