What should I know about nutrition for overweight children?

Kristel Hassler, CPNP

There is a growing and very appropriate concern today about childhood obesity and the effects that it is having on children in our community.

There is a great deal of information available through the Internet, news media and popular magazines about what children should not eat. It can be very easy to get discouraged and to ask the question, "What CAN my kids eat?" The good news is that there are simple, easy to follow guidelines available to help you make good food choices for your children.

In 2005, the United States Department of Agriculture created a special Food Pyramid to provide nutritional guidance for children. The key concepts of the 2005 Food Pyramid include activity, moderation, personalization, proportionality, variety, and gradual improvement.

The following are food group serving recommendations found in this pyramid:

Grain group
- 2-3 years: 3 servings
- 4-8 years: 4 - 5 servings
- 9-13 years: 5 - 6 servings
- 14-18 years: 6 - 7 servings
Vegetable group
- 2-3 years: 1 cup
- 4-8 years: 1.5 cups
- 9-13 years: 2 - 2.5 cups
- 14-18 years: 2.5 - 3 cups
Milk group
- 2-8 years: 2 cups
- 9-18 years: 3 cups
Meat and Beans group
- 2-3 years: 2 servings
- 4-8 years: 3 - 4 servings
- 9-13 years: 5 servings
- 14-18 years: 5 - 6 servings
Fruit group
- 2-3 years: 1 cup
- 4-8 years: 1 - 1.5 cups
- 9-13 years: 1.5 cups
- 14-18 years: 1.5 - 2 cups
A reminder to "eat less" of the sweets and fat group

The guidelines listed are very helpful, but many parents wonder how many calories their child should consume each day. The chart below is based on physical activity. If your child is not very active, your goal should be for him or her to consume the lower range of calories. If you child is extremely active, you may need to increase his or her daily calories accordingly.

Age 2 to 3 1,000 to 1,400 calories/day

Age 4 to 8 Girls: 1,200 to 1,800 calories/day
Boys: 1,400 to 2,000 calories/day

Age 9 to 13 Girls: 1,600 to 2,200 calories/day
Boys: 1,800 to 2,600 calories/day

Age 14 to 18 Girls: 1,800 to 2,400 calories/day
Boys: 2,200 to 3,200 calories/day

The USDA recommendation for children who are already overweight is to reduce the rate of body weight gain while still allowing for growth and development. Weight reduction diets in children should never be undertaken without consulting with your healthcare professional.

Here are a few of the on-line resources available to parents who wish to learn more about nutrition and fitness in children:

The USDA's Food Pyramid (http://www.mypyramid.gov/)
IFIC Foundation's Kidnetic (http://www.kidnetic.com/)
The American Dietetic Association's Eat Right (http://www.eatright.org/)

Age 2 to 3	1,000 to 1,400 calories/day
Age 4 to 8	Girls: 1,200 to 1,800 calories/day Boys: 1,400 to 2,000 calories/day
Age 9 to 13	Girls: 1,600 to 2,200 calories/day Boys: 1,800 to 2,600 calories/day
Age 14 to 18	Girls: 1,800 to 2,400 calories/day Boys: 2,200 to 3,200 calories/day