Nov 04, 2015 11:00 PM EST
What Food Contribute to Weight Gain in Children?

Obesity is one of the biggest problems in the world. Many have tried to change their lifestyle and eat healthily. This was a problem for adults but now it also became a problem for kids. According to the Atlantic, marketers also have done their best to help curb the problem with childhood obesity by making policies that don't allow fast-foods to open near schools or McDonalds finding a way to advertise it in a healthy way and a lot more. However, what kind of food is actually connected with kids gaining much weight?

A group of researchers from Duke National University in Singapore looked into about 15,444 children born in 1991-1992 in Bristol. They analyzed data including the 4,646 children who had a three-day food diary which included their information such as weight, height other physical activity measured when they were 7, 10 and 13 years old. They followed the changes in their BMI and checked whether they gained more weight or lost more than the average kid their age.

The findings showed that children who gained the most weight over the course of 3 years ate more butter and margarine, fried fish and poultry, potato chips, processed meat, French fries, milk, sweets, and sugary beverages. Whole grains and high-fiber breakfast cereal are the only food that is connected with staying on a healthy weight.

The team said that potato chips in particular are the most obesity-promoting food for young children to consume. They are very high energy density and low satiety index, but these are popularly consumed as snacks. The study also shows that fast-food is bad for kids and that because of this they continue to face criticism for their very strong influence on the kids' eating habit these days. The study also proves the fact that indeed eating fiver enriched food is a good way to lose the excess weight.

In conclusion, it is safe to say that it would be a bad idea to give a 7 year old child a full dish of fish and chips.

 PREVIOUS POST
NEXT POST