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.

Children likely to overeat when dining out

A study from the University of California, San Diego of more than 800 children and adolescents aged 7 to 17 found that restaurant meals accounted for only 6% of all meals eaten, but contained…

Diet may raise asthma risk in children

Toddlers who consume large amounts of margarine and foods fried in vegetable oil may be twice as likely to develop asthma as their peers who eat less of these foods, preliminary research…

Vegetarian diets can meet kids' nutrient needs

With some careful menu planning, children and even infants raised as complete vegetarians (vegans) can get all the nutrients they need for good health, according to two reports in the Journal…

Fatty acids may play role in children's allergies

A team of researches from Finland suggests that diet may play a role in the perceived increase in allergies among children in the industrialized world. Their study found that children who…

Probiotic milk may ward off child's cough, cold

Children who drink probiotic milk, with added Lactobacillus bacteria, may be slightly less likely to have fevers, sore throats or diarrhea than children who drink regular milk, according to a…

American children are eating better, but they weigh more

Many of the eating habits of the typical American 10-year-old have improved over the past 20 years, but an increasing number of children are overweight, researchers the Baylor College of…

'Good' bacteria reduce diarrhea in babies

Common bacteria can help cut the risk that hospitalized infants will develop diarrhea by 80%, Polish researchers report. The research team investigated whether providing the infants with…

Soy-based school lunches lower kids' fat intake

Schools that substitute soy protein for beef, pork and turkey appear to make the grade when it comes to students' health, results of a study suggest. According to researchers from the…

Friendly bacteria may halt allergies in babies

Giving soon-to-be mothers and newborns doses of "good" bacteria may help prevent childhood allergies, new research suggests. The findings are preliminary, but allergy experts say…

Toddler's eating habits predict dental cavities later

According to the study of 135 Finnish youngsters, eating habits at age three can help predict whether or not he or she will have a mouthful of cavities by the time they are age six,…

Secondhand smoke lowers vitamin C in children

Being exposed to secondhand smoke may deprive children of an important vitamin that may protect against heart disease and is needed for growth and development. In a study of nearly 3,000…

Margarine linked to allergic sensitization in boys

Margarine consumption appears to be associated with an increase in the body�s production of specific immune compound called IgE, German researchers report. Scientists used data from a…

Obesity may worsen asthma for inner-city children

Over the past 20 years, childhood asthma and obesity have risen in tandem, but the nature of the relationship remains unclear. Now, results of a study from the Albert Einstein College of…

Sugary soft drinks linked to childhood obesity

For every soft drink or sugar-sweetened beverage a child drinks every day, the risk for obesity appears to jump 60%, suggests a new study from the Children's Hospital in Boston,…

Obesity on the rise among infants and toddlers

A new study chronicles a sharp rise in the number of infants and toddlers who were classified as obese between 1989 and 1998. The results, published in the February 10th issue of the British…

Many high school athletes use creatine to improve performance

In a 1999 survey of high school athletes conducted at the Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine Center, over 8% respondents reported using creatine and most users believed the supplement improved their…

Soda-drinking children end up lacking nutrients

A new survey of 4000 children aged 4 to 17 years shows that those who drink large quantities of soda may be selling themselves short of several important vitamins and minerals anew survey…

Developmental advantage demonstrated in breastfed infants whose mothers took DHA

Results of a recent study conducted at the Children's Nutrition Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine affirm the potential importance of the intake of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)…

Adult diets not recommended for kids

Adults may be transferring their food phobias and bad eating habits to their offspring, according to experts at a recent meeting of American Academy of Pediatrics. They may be selecting diets…

Teens lower blood pressure with fruits, veggies

Teenagers at risk of developing high blood pressure as adults can lower their risk by eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy products, say researchers from Thomas Jefferson…