Childhood Nutrition & Obesity Monica Fenty HW Professor Eaves October 15, 2013 Kaplan University

Introduction  Childhood nutrition is often overlooked since children do not usually display obvious signs of nutrient deficiencies or problems right away, nor do they think to report the symptoms. The way children eat and play have changed over the years and along with technology came television, processed and convenient foods, and video games. It is every bit as important to see that these children get their vitamins and minerals. There are also supplements to make sure that kids get the necessary vitamins and minerals. Herbs are helpful at times with things from treating common colds to skin rashes and hyperactivity. This presentation will cover the general health and nutrition of children and how to avoid childhood obesity.

Statistics to Consider  17% of all children and teens in the United States struggle with obesity.  Most of the young people in the United States do not eat enough fruits and vegetables.  Most children in the US eat well over the recommended intake of sodium.  Empty calories make up to 40% of children’s calorie intake daily in the US.  Soda is much more common a drink each day than milk.

What to Do About It Some steps to take in order to correct this problem in the US are: o Increase the childhood intake of fruits and vegetables o Decrease the amount of sodium available to children o Promote more physical activity among children o Monitor the type of calories consumed by children o Oversee the vitamin intake of the children o Use nutritional supplements when beneficial opportunities arise o Learn about herbs and how they can be useful for children

Nutrition  With today’s fast food society it is no wonder that most children are not getting enough vitamins and many struggle with obesity. The children are likely getting enough calories, but what type of calories, nutrient rich or empty? One of the main problems with childhood nutrition is that convenience has taken over and so many inexpensive sweet treats have taken the place of fruit. It is a fact that children can be obese, yet be malnourished at the same time, due to them taking in too many empty calories and not enough nutrient rich calories that would be providing the child with the necessary vitamins and minerals. Another huge issue is the ever more common sedentary lifestyle of many children today. More children sit in front of a screen and snack on junk food than participate in physically active play anymore. Unfortunately, laziness has helped create this problem with the youth in America today.  Solution: Replace chips, snack cakes, and soda with milk, water, fresh fruit, granola bars, and 100% fruit juice.

Vitamins The top vitamins and minerals for children are:  Vitamin A – It promotes healthy growth and development, tissue and bone growth, and a healthy immune system.  Vitamin Bs – Responsible for energy production, as well as maintaining a healthy nervous and circulatory system.  Vitamin C – Helps promote healthy muscles, tissues, and skin.  Vitamin D – Important for healthy bone and tooth growth and helping to absorb calcium.  Calcium – Assists in building strong bones.  Iron – Essential for muscle growth and red blood cell development. Not every child needs a vitamin supplement; children are supposed to get their vitamins from eating a healthy and balanced diet. However, if the child is a picky eater and does not get the recommended amount of vegetables, fruits, dairy, and whole grains, then a vitamin supplements would be beneficial to fill in the gaps.

Nutritional Supplements  Sometimes when children are not getting all their nutritional needs met with a balanced diet nutritional supplements can be used and are helpful in filling in the nutrition gaps that their diet is not filling.  Some examples of nutrition supplements are: multivitamins, Ovaltine, and Pediasure.

Herbs  Herbs are often overlooked for their helpfulness and effectiveness in treating symptoms and helping children overcome illness and other conditions affecting them.  Herbs can ease discomfort of viruses, boost the immune system, reduce pain, treat coughs, treat digestive problems, and help with hyperactivity.  Some popular herbs used with children are Garlic, Coltsfoot, Marshmallow leaves, Liquorice, and Mullein; these are common in the treatment in coughs.

Exercise  Promoting and encouraging physical activity will go a long way in combating obesity in children. It is a simple idea, but may be a challenge for some to implement. Limit TV and video game time and create games that require physical activity and create a physically active environment and opportunities to be active.  Excising with children teaches them that it is important and should be as much a part of the day as eating.

Conclusion  Fixing the problem of childhood obesity and nutrition is not a one step simple solution, but a process. These steps and ideas are not difficult to implement; it just needs to be done. Excluding fast food and junk food from the child’s diet and replacing it with a healthy diet and healthy snacks, along with getting off the couch and moving may all sound so simple. So, why are children in this place suffering from poor nutrition and obesity? Who knows; maybe it is a lack of education and convenience. The important thing is to correct it now.

References Benaroch, R. (2012). Vitamins for Kids. Retrieved from kids-need-vitamins?page=2 Childhood Overweight and Obesity. (2013). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved from Gavin, M. (2012). Overweight and Obesity. Retrieved from l# Hoffmann, D. (n.d.). Herbs and Children. Retrieved from /1300/1 Nutrition Facts. (2013). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved from Turcotte, M. (2010). Nutritional Drink Supplements for Children. Retrieved from nutritional-drink-supplements-for-children/