Nutrition for Children and Teenagers : 270 Articles

Eating well and being physically active are keys to a child's well-being. A healthy diet not only supplies all the nutrients that growing children and teens need, it also lays the foundation for future health.  Scan this section for research findings and articles on how certain foods, vitamins, minerals, and physical activity impact a child's health.

Dairy products and moderate fat intake may help kids stay lean

Diets that are moderate in fat and rich in dairy, fruits and vegetables may guard against obesity in children, a study the Boston University School of Medicine suggests. The study of 106…

Low vitamin C levels may increase asthma risk

Children with low levels of vitamin C may be more likely to develop asthma, researchers report. In a U.S. nationwide study, children with asthma tended to have lower blood levels of the…

Very-low-calorie diet controls obese teens' diabetes

According to a small study from the Medical University of South Carolina, a high-protein, low-carb, very-low-calorie diet is effective short-term treatment for obese adolescents with type 2…

Nutrition deficits increasing among Canadian kids

With children developing dietary lifestyle diseases at younger ages, the importance of parents establishing and reinforcing good nutrition habits, both at home and at school, is evident.…

TV watching, eating out make American kids fat

Excessive television watching and fat-laden fast food menus are working together to make U.S. children fatter and fatter, two separate reports said this week. The reports by non-profit groups,…

Skipping breakfast leads to cavities in kids

Skipping breakfast appears to increase the risk of cavities in young children, new research reports. U.S. investigators found that children between the ages of 2 and 5 who didn't eat…

Nutrition counseling cuts kids' saturated fat intake

Nutritional counseling for families can cut the amount of saturated fat in young children's diets without depriving them of needed nutrients, a study in Finland shows. The study followed…

Fish oil during pregnancy may prevent allergies in baby

Fish-oil supplements taken during pregnancy might help prevent allergies in babies at high risk for them, preliminary research suggests. A study in Australia found that babies whose mothers…

Fast food tied to higher calorie intake in kids

Almost one third of U.S. kids eat fast food on any given day, downing extra calories, sugar and fat in the process, a national study shows. Researchers say their findings give weight to the…

Canadian schools to be pop-free by September

Canadian elementary schools will be no longer be stocking pop as of the beginning of the next school year. The Canadian soft drink industry says it is voluntarily withdrawing its carbonated…

School sports participants grow into active adults

Raise kids to play sports, and you may also raise future generations of healthier adults, according to new research. In this study, adults who exercise in their free time were more than three…

Family strain spurs symptoms in some bulimic teens

Family arguments and conflict may trigger cycles of binging and purging for some teenage girls with bulimia, a small study suggests. The implication, researchers say, is that therapy focusing…

Group seeks to curb promoting junk food to kids

This week a consumer group charged that the marketing of fatty, sugary, and low-nutrient foods was fueling childhood obesity and it called for restricting promotions targeted at the young. The…

Girls need bigger breakfast than boys

Girls need a more filling breakfast than boys if they are to do their best in school tests, according to researchers in Northern Ireland. Health experts at the University of Ulster said memory…

Lactose is OK for kids with allergy to cow's milk

Lactose intolerance and allergy to cow's milk are commonly thought of as being the same thing, but they're not. A study last month (August 2003) confirmed that children who are…

Vitamins C and E reduce effects of high cholesterol

Children and young adults who have inherited high cholesterol may reduce their risk of clogged arteries by taking vitamins C and E, researchers say. The vitamins improve blood flow through the…

Low glycemic diet better for obese teens

The results of a small study suggest that a diet that reduces blood sugar (glucose), a "reduced-glycemic load diet," is an effective alternative to a conventional low-fat diet in the…

Health report card could help kids drop excess weight

A "health report card" that includes a student's height, weight, and fitness level may help parents address weight problems in their children, new research suggests. Between 1963…

NYC schools ban junk food from vending machines

School officials are taking the candy away from New York's kids. Starting in September, candy, soda and sweet snacks will be banned from vending machines in New York City's education…

School-aged kids choose unhealthy lunches

Schools that offer students pizza and fries as alternatives to healthier lunch fare are not only encouraging children to eat high-fat foods during lunch hour -- but after school and at home as…