Children Backslide as they Age

January 9, 2009: 04:45 PM EST

Children quickly lose good eating and exercise habits after they move from pre-school to school. Researchers from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and Brown University Medical School relied on parents’ perceptions in a study of diet and exercise in their children. Parents of pre-school children (aged 2-5 years) said their children had good eating habits and activity levels, while parents of 6-12 year olds felt their children had less healthful diets and activities. The older age group consumed more sweetened drinks and salty and sweet snacks, was less likely to eat dinner with their parents, and more likely to spend time at weekends watching television. However, despite the parents’ perception that younger children had healthier diets, researcher Dr Hollie A. Raynor said, “"Although preschool-aged children engaged in more healthful behaviors according to parent recall, the preschool-aged children only met 2 dietary recommendations, fruit and low-fat dairy intake”. The diets of older children also did not meet guidelines.

"Eating Habits and Exercise Behaviors in Children Can Deteriorate Early", Nutrition Horizon , January 09, 2009, © CNS Media

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