A combination of good nutrition and exercise helps keep the body healthy and fit. Poor nutrition and lack of exercise can lead to numerous health problems, including obesity, malnutrition and iron deficiency anemia. Poor nutrition and lack of exercise can also increase the risk of heart disease, cancer, stroke and osteoporosis (weak and brittle bones associated with insufficient amounts of calcium) later in life.
Early signs of atherosclerosis (a condition in which fatty material collects along the walls of arteries), a common cause of heart disease, may be noticed during childhood and adolescence. This condition is related to poor dietary habits that lead to high levels of cholesterol in the blood. More and more American children are overweight or obese than in years past. In addition, an increasing number of children are being diagnosed with high cholesterol (also called hypercholesterolemia). High cholesterol was not even screened for or tracked in children until recently. Poor dietary choices can also cause cavities.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 67 percent of United States youth aged 6 to 19 years old consume too much total fat, 72 percent consume too much saturated fat and 80 percent of American youth do not eat enough fruits and vegetables. Furthermore, only 39 percent of American youth aged 2 to 17 consume enough fiber.
According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, 70 percent of American adolescents – especially females - do not consume enough calcium. The CDC reports that 85 percent of teenage girls do not consume a sufficient amount of calcium. This may be because many female adolescents mistakenly believe that all dairy foods are high in fat. However, low-fat milk contains as much calcium as whole milk. Mineral supplements may be considered for children and teens who cannot or will not consume adequate amounts of calcium.
Caffeine is present in many foods and beverages, including chocolate, sodas, coffee and tea. It is a stimulant and a diuretic (increases urine production) that can cause many problems when consumed in excess, including nervousness, upset stomach, headaches and difficulty concentrating and sleeping. Excessive urination due to caffeine may lead to dehydration. Young children may be particularly susceptible to these effects. In addition, caffeine interferes with calcium absorption, which can result in less bone formation in children who consume it in excess.
According to the CDC, the average daily consumption of sodas in adolescent girls increased from 6 ounces (177 milliliters) to 11 ounces (325 milliliters) between 1978 and 1998. Over the same period of time, average daily soda consumption increased from 7 ounces (207 milliliters) to 19 ounces (561 milliliters) among adolescent boys. Sodas are full of caffeine, sugar and empty calories. They are not nutritious and may replace healthier foods and beverages in the child’s diet. Health experts recommend that children and teenagers limit their consumption of sodas
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