Diets and Weight Problems
Dieting can harm children both physically and emotionally.
Dieting is not recommended as a treatment for children with weight problems. Here are some reasons why:
- Dieting can compromise a child’s growth and development
- Diets confuse a child’s inner signal to eat when hungry and stop when satisfied
- Kids placed on diets feel bad about themselves and guilty about eating
Even pushing kids to exercise for weight loss can turn them off activity.
Never put a baby on a diet! Never reduce a baby's amount of breast milk or formula. Babies grow at a rate that's right for them.
Treatment approaches that try to “fix” the child are not effective. It’s important to help parents learn to change family eating and activity patterns.
Some children will never become slim, but all children can be healthier if they eat well, enjoy being active, and feel good about themselves.
Diets and Weight Problems