Foods Most Likely To Cause Teen Obesity

FAST FOOD

Fast food plays a large role in the development of obesity. Teens are eating more and more fast food these days. And while it is great that fast food restaurants are offering healthier options, teens are not choosing them. A recent study found that teens served a fast food lunch ate about 1650 calories during that meal- more than 60% of their daily requirement. Children eat about 187 extra calories on days that they eat fast food. They also eat more fat and sugar and less fiber, milk, fruit, and vegetables. Over the course of a year, an extra 187 calories a day = 68,255 calories per year or 17 extra pounds of fat. Granted, most children don't eat fast food DAILY- but even eating fast food once a week would cause a child to gain 2 ½ pounds in a year. And those 2 ½ pounds can add up quickly.

SUPERSIZED PORTIONS

Do supersized portions affect the number of calories eaten? Rolls et al did a study where children were served macaroni and cheese. The 3 year olds ate the same amount regardless of the serving size. The 5 year olds ate more when given larger portions. As kids get older, environmental cues begin to override internal cues about hunger and fullness. Another Rolls et al study showed that when they doubled the size of a child's lunch entrée, the child increased the size of each bite and increased the number of bites- and ate 25% more calories.

JUICE

As a pediatrician, I am constantly asked at what age a child should be introduced to juice. I tell parents that a child should be introduced to juice in the same way he/she is introduced to chocolate- as late as possible, in small doses, and as a treat- not a diet staple. It is a very common misconception that juice is healthy. It is not. Juice is loaded with calories and sugar. Juice is certainly not as healthy as a piece of fruit. It is much higher in sugar and not a good source of fiber. Drinking too much juice may induce a child to develop a preference for sweet drinks. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends less than 6 oz of juice a day for children under 6 and 12 oz of juice a day for children age 7-18.

SODA

In a Massachusetts study, 548 children were followed for 19 months to determine the role that soda played in obesity. There was a direct relationship between the amount of soda ingested and increased BMI. For every additional soda ingested on a consistent basis, BMI increased. They found that a child who consistently increases his soda ingestion by one serving a day gains about 2 lbs after 19 months- increasing by 2 servings correlated with a 4 lb weight gain, and so on.

A 12 ounce can of soda contains the equivalent of 10 tsp of sugar. But liquid calories don't fill you up so you don't eat less later in the day, as you would if you had eaten the same number of calories. Each additional serving of soda increases a child's odds of obesity by 60%

There is a broad misconception that children should avoid artificial sweeteners; in fact, studies show that, in moderation, they are perfectly safe. Sugar, however, is the real enemy. Study after study confirms that sugar adds weight which leads to many adverse health effects. Despite some current reports, there is no proof that diet soda causes obesity.