By Sofia Segounis, Nutritionist

Children as young as nine years of age are dieting. Unfortunately, instead of losing weight, these young dieters are gaining weight.

A study, published in the journal Pediatrics, followed a group of children between the ages of 9 and 14 for two years. The results showed that those who reported dieting actually gained more weight than those who did not diet. The dieters ate fewer calories and were more active, yet they gained more weight than their non-dieting peers. The same results were observed for both boys and girls.

Why does this happen?
The reason diets often fail is our bodies are designed to conserve energy during times of starvation. When we drastically restrict our food intake, our metabolism slows down and calories are stored as fat. These stores are then used when the body is in the starvation mode. If we regularly eat ridiculously small amounts, our metabolism drops and our bodies constantly store calories for fear of starving.

Strict dieting is not recommended, especially for young children who are still growing and developing. Children need calories and nutrients to sustain their developing bodies. Any caloric restriction could affect normal growth and development.

Children and teens should:

• Eat enough food to sustain a healthy weight and for normal growth and development
• Eat a variety of wholesome foods
• Eat three meals and two snacks per day
• Eat at regular intervals
• Engage in regular physical activity

Emphasis should be placed on eating a variety of foods: fruits and vegetables, wholesome grains, nuts, seeds, legumes and healthy types of fats (olive oils, nuts, seeds, etc.). Eating foods that rank lower on the glycemic index have been proven to promote weight loss better than lowfat, calorie restricted diets. See The Right Diet for Overweight Kids for the complete story on dieting and the glycemic index as well as Truestar Meal Plans for Kids for details on proper childhood nutrition.

Children should be allowed to enjoy their lives and not worry about what they are going to eat and how much. Teaching your children proper eating habits at a young age is crucial. Show them the difference between healthy eating and dangerous dieting practices. They will thank you for it.

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