Nutrition for Children & Adolescents Course
Obesity is fast turning into an "epidemic" disease, not only in adults, but in our children too. It is estimated that up to 15 % of all children in the UK are overweight or obese (Bupa). Whilst up to 34% of all children in the USA are overweight or obese (NPD Group).
" Over the last fifty years, there has been a change in the predominant concerns about the diets & health of school aged children. Historically, the focus has been on the provision of sufficient nutrients & energy in relation to current & future needs, but providing dietary balance & encouraging less sedentary lifestyles are now viewed as the main priorities". British Nutrition Foundation
With the exception of very young children (4
- 6 years old), between 40-69% of children in Britain are largely inactive, spending less than one hour a day participating in activities of moderate intensity. These findings are also consistent with a number of other recent reports concerning the increasing prevalence of overweight & obesity in children. This is a situation that is mirrored in adults & is likely to stem from the same fundamental causes.
Like many adults, British children are typically eating less than half the recommended five portions of fruit & vegetables a day. One in five (4 -18 year olds) eat no fruit at all during an average week. Poor eating & poor physical activity habits in childhood may increase the risk of health problems in later in life. The diet of a child is a factor, to varying degrees, in the development of a number of diseases, either in childhood itself or during adult life, such as obesity, iron deficiency anaemia, dental caries, coronary heart disease, hypertension, osteoporosis & cancer.
There is some evidence to suggest that health traits present in childhood tend to track into adult life, including body weight, blood levels of cholesterol, other blood lipids & insulin, & blood pressure.
Improving the health & nutrition of children should remain a priority for the government, health professionals, the food industry & teachers alike. But more importantly, parents should also have an active role in providing the best nutritional quality to their children. The course aims to show parents & practitioners how to improve the health & nutrition of children.