Week 5 - Childhood nutrition 1

Introduction

The course on Childhood Nutrition is offered by Manchester Metropolitan University and is instructed by Helen Seppanen.

Learning Outcomes

The course aims to help students understand and describe the physiological changes and nutritional needs of children aged 6 months to 11 years. Additionally, students will discuss the prevalence and impact of childhood obesity, examine factors contributing to childhood eating behaviors in the UK, and become familiar with current policy documents regarding childhood nutrition.

Child Physiological Development

During childhood, significant physiological changes occur, including an enhanced capacity of the immune system to combat diseases. It is an important phase for laying down bone mass that will benefit future adulthood, with steady increases in blood volume and muscle mass as growth factors. Nutritional needs during this stage are influenced by various factors including size, genetics, and growth rates.

Infancy (0-5 years)

Children experience key physical development milestones such as deposition of fat and lean tissue, growth of the trunk and limbs, and maturation of organs during infancy.

Psychosocial Development

Key milestones in psychosocial development include the development of behavioral patterns and progress in communication skills.

Eating Behaviors

Eating behaviors during childhood can include fussy eating, which is often unpredictable but typically has little overall impact on nutrition and is influenced by reward and punishment patterns. Faddy eating, common in preschoolers (ages 2-6 years), may be linked to prior experiences with foods. Additionally, food neophobia represents a reluctance to try new foods.

Nutritional Requirements

In early childhood, calorie requirements per kg of body weight decrease compared to infancy due to slowed growth rates. In the UK, dietary reference values for nutritional requirements list specific needs for different age groups: for example, children aged 1-3 years require 15g of protein and 7mg of iron, while those aged 4-6 years require 20g of protein and 6mg of iron.

Physical Activity Recommendations

For physical activity, children aged 1-2 should engage in at least 180 minutes of physical activity daily, including activities like hopping and jumping. Preschoolers aged 3-4 years should engage in at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity every day.

Guidelines for Early Years Education

The School Food Trust Guidelines set food-based standards established in 2006, which have been updated for various school settings over the years, promoting the concept of "Eat Better, Start Better" that provides nutritional guidelines in early childhood.

Eat Better Start Better Initiative

This initiative guides early years providers to meet welfare requirements for providing healthy, balanced, and nutritious food for toddlers, covering aspects such as frequency and quantities of food serving, nutritional guidelines across food groups, menu planning strategies, and portion size recommendations for children aged 1-5 years.

Dental Decay Statistics

Oral health in 3-year-olds is monitored under the National Dental Epidemiology Programme for England, which highlights the prevalence and severity of dental decay in this age group.

Sugar Content in Common Foods

The study of non-milk extrinsic sugars (NMES) found in typical food portions reveals that one teaspoon of sugar corresponds to 4g, a can of coke (330ml) contains 35g, a flavoured milk drink (200ml) contains 19g, a two-finger Kit Kat contains 10g, and a Ribena carton (200ml) contains 21g.

Prevalence of Overweight Children

According to the National Child Measurement Programme for 2022-2023, 21.3% of children in reception are classified as overweight or obese, with 21.5% of boys and 21.2% of girls in this category.

Prevalence of Obesity

In the same measurement cycle, 9.2% of reception-aged children are classified as living with obesity, with 9.3% boys and 9.0% girls.

Trends in Childhood Obesity

Statistics from 2006/07 to 2022/23 reveal trends in obesity and weight categories among reception-aged children, showing that underweight children represent 1.2%, healthy weight children represent 77.5%, and obesity cases account for 9.2%. These trends indicate a consistent rise in obesity percentages over time.

Health Implications of Childhood Obesity

Childhood obesity can lead to emotional issues such as low self-esteem, bullying, and stigmatization, as well as physical health problems including high cholesterol, high blood pressure, pre-diabetes, and bone and joint issues. There is also an increased risk of remaining overweight into adulthood, which can impact long-term health.

Energy Intake Analysis

Analysis of energy intakes among children indicates that mean intakes are below estimated average requirements. However, overweight and obese children tend to consume significantly more calories than those with ideal body weight.

Snacking and Its Effects on Obesity

While the media often depicts snacking as a primary cause of childhood obesity, it is the type of foods consumed that significantly matters rather than the frequency of snacking. In fact, snacking may positively influence appetite regulation hormones.

Sugar Beverages and Childhood Obesity

A study involving 13,170 children found that daily consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) correlated with increased body fat percentages between ages 7 and 11. The findings suggest that promoting substitutes for SSBs may not yield the expected benefits in reducing obesity rates.

School Children's Physical Activity

It is essential for children to engage in at least 60 minutes of daily physical activity, with 45-60 minutes being necessary to prevent the transition into overweight and obesity. Weight-bearing exercises are crucial for bone health and improving overall well-being.

Parental Perceptions of Child Weight

Many parents misidentify their child's weight status; around 22% perceive normal-weight children as underweight, while 63% misclassify obese children as merely overweight.

Barriers to Healthy Eating

Various factors influence children's independent food choices, including parental influence, peer pressure, external media impacts, and personal perspectives on health.

Responsibility Discussion

A group discussion on the responsibility for reducing childhood obesity revolves around who is accountable and what actionable changes can be implemented by these parties.

Childhood Obesity Action Plan

This initiative aims to halve childhood obesity rates by 2030, particularly addressing the disproportionate impact on low-income families and aspiring to bridge the obesity gap between deprived and non-deprived children.

Collaborative Prevention Efforts

Effectively preventing childhood obesity requires collaboration among parents, food producers, schools, and the government, as no single entity can tackle this issue alone.

Questions and Discussion

The course will conclude with an open floor for questions concerning childhood nutrition and obesity.