-->
Pages: 1

Low-Carb Diets Bad For Kids


(Click here to view the original thread with full colors/images)



Posted by: BabsieGirl

Dieticians: Low-Carb Diets Bad For Kids
Carbs Needed For Children's Brains, Energy

UPDATED: 1:18 p.m. EST March 2, 2004

HOUSTON -- Low-carbohydrate diets are the latest rage in losing weight. It seems more and more people are dropping pounds on the Atkins and South Beach diets.

But these weight-loss plans can be dangerous for kids. Carbohydrates are needed for healthy bodies and brains, according to dieticians.

"Carbohydrates is the body's preferred source of fuel, so for an active child, that's a problem," said Jennifer Thomas, a dietician with Texas Children's Hospital in Houston.

As the senior clinical dietician at the hospital, Thomas treats a lot of overweight children. But she said low-carb, high-protein diets are not the way to solve the problem.

"Some of the low-carb diets eliminate things that we know have known health benefits, so I have some concerns with that," Thomas said.

Thomas is talking about plans that limit or eliminate whole grains, fruits and vegetables.

Registered dietician Catherine Kruppa said that children need carbohydrates to think.

"Carbohydrates are the only fuel for your brain," Kruppa said.

Teenager Natalie Garza decided she needed help with her eating habits since she was overweight.

"At school, I would usually eat French fries or a bag of chips and a Coke, and stuff like that," Garza said.

Garza, who wore women's size 14 pants, had to alter her dance team uniform so fabric could be added.

"We were all excited to get our dance costumes and they looked great on everybody else but me," she said.

She went to Texas Children's, where a dietician showed her how to eat and exercise properly without fad diets. She has lost 26 pounds in less than six months.

"I'm very happy now because I can shop at all the stores that my friends shop at. I can wear the new cool clothes that everybody else is wearing," Garza said.

She said her new eating habits are easy -- three meals a day and one snack.

"That way, your metabolism is always running," she said.

Garza also limits portion sizes.

"I can eat everything. I just have to watch the portion size. You should be able to fit it in the palm of your hand," she said.

Exercise is also important.

"I have to do my crunches, my push ups," Garza said. "This is the healthy way to lose weight."

Dieticians said a lot of people on a low-carb plan eat lean meats and a lot of vegetables. They said that if people had done that in the first place, they would not need to go on a low-carb diet.


Posted by: Prince

I was going to respond to each quote, but as I got about half way thru it was so rediculous I felt that I would actually be dignifying the article by responding to it.

I am not saying that I agree or disagree, just that the article is laughable in it's inaccuracies, and the way it applies it's "facts" to children's physiology.

If I had an obese child I would definitely adjust their carb intake, especially sugar, and high glycemic carbs as well as tapering their carbs down in the afternoons and evenings.

I would think that reducing carb intake (in a sensible manner) would be healthier than having a child remain obese.


Posted by: brodus

Prince is totally right. I think any sensible nutritionist/dietician would recommend the same thing--cut the sugars, switch to healthy carbs, no potato chips before bedtime, etc.

That said, What parent would put there kid on a diet that:
Quote:
limits or eliminate whole grains, fruits and vegetables.
That's just silly.

<although I hate Atkins, I have learned through these forums that the harm of Atkins is less than the harm of being very obese, and that's who it's best for>


Posted by: dg806

eat three meals a day to keep metabolism running..................
I can eat everything, just watch portion size..........................
"We were all excited to get our dance costumes and they looked great on everybody else but me.................

Sheesh!


Posted by: camarosuper6

Is it just me, or is everyone trying to forumlate their own "new and easier" way to lose weight?

Its pretty damn simple, especially for kids to lose weight and be in shape.

1. Eat in moderation
2. Get plenty of exercise
3. Make sure all the food groups are addressed.
4. Let the poor kid be a KID and dont overreact when he wants some ice cream or a cookie.


Thats it.


Posted by: Prince

Quote:
Originally posted by camarosuper6
Is it just me, or is everyone trying to forumlate their own "new and easier" way to lose weight?

Its pretty damn simple, especially for kids to lose weight and be in shape.

1. Eat in moderation
2. Get plenty of exercise
3. Make sure all the food groups are addressed.
4. Let the poor kid be a KID and dont overreact when he wants some ice cream or a cookie.

Thats it.
That's a bit simplistic IMO, you can go to McDonalds and get a combo meal that represents all of the food groups. In fact that is the biggest problem today, parents feeding their kids a bunch of shit from fast food restaruants rather than cooking them a decent meal. Even the schools offer fast food now, my kid has the choice in elemetary school of getting a Taco Bell burrito, it's absurd.


Posted by: brodus

Quote:
In fact that is the biggest problem today, parents feeding their kids a bunch of shit from fast food restaruants rather than cooking them a decent meal. Even the schools offer fast food now, my kid has the choice in elemetary school of getting a Taco Bell burrito, it's absurd.
Right on, brother. People don't know how lucky they are if they ate home cooked meals growing up. I did, and I'm thankful.


Posted by: JerseyDevil

If a kid could just cut out all of the high sugar and hydrogenated oil foods like chips, soda, crackers, white bread, ice cream, cake, cookies, candy bars, etc, etc, they would be fine.

I've never heard of anyone restricting whole grains and vegetables from their children's diet because they are too high in 'carbs'. That would be ridiculous.


Posted by: Prince

of course these days it's rare that a child eats whole grains, or even veggies.


Posted by: brodus

Quote:
I've never heard of anyone restricting whole grains and vegetables from their children's diet because they are too high in 'carbs'.
Yeah, that's what I'm saying. That's not even Atkins. Thats, like, Shatkins.

The press has always had a hard time with science.


Posted by: camarosuper6

YOUR KID HAS THE CHOICE OF TACO BELL IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL! ARE YOU SERIOUS!

Holy moly, if we got taco bell ONCE when I was in elementary school we would have all celebrated. No wonder kids are fat.

I agree, they need more home cooked meals, and when I said all the food groups addressed, I really meant in the form of good home cooked food, not some place like hometown buffet.


Posted by: Prince

Quote:
Originally posted by camarosuper6
YOUR KID HAS THE CHOICE OF TACO BELL IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL! ARE YOU SERIOUS!
yup.


Posted by: nikegurl

Quote:
Originally posted by Prince
of course these days it's rare that a child eats whole grains, or even veggies.
reminds me...i was chopping celery one day at home and my ex boyfriend's 9 year old daughter says to me "what's that?"

huh?

she didn't recognize celery. never seen the stuff before.


Posted by: brodus

Quote:
Originally posted by nikegurl
reminds me...i was chopping celery one day at home and my ex boyfriend's 9 year old daughter says to me "what's that?"

huh?

she didn't recognize celery. never seen the stuff before.
That is really, really sad. It's also the McDonalds marketing department's wet dream--that people will forget what real food looks like and identify eating with value meals....ick....


Posted by: Vieope

Quote:
Originally posted by camarosuper6
4. Let the poor kid be a KID and dont overreact when he wants some ice cream or a cookie.
That is the most important thing.


Posted by: JerseyDevil

Quote:
Originally posted by camarosuper6
YOUR KID HAS THE CHOICE OF TACO BELL IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL! ARE YOU SERIOUS!

Holy moly, if we got taco bell ONCE when I was in elementary school we would have all celebrated. No wonder kids are fat.

I agree, they need more home cooked meals, and when I said all the food groups addressed, I really meant in the form of good home cooked food, not some place like hometown buffet.
You think that's bad, you should have seen the look on my face when my stepdaughter told me (about 8 YEARS ago) that in her junior high, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and Kentucky Fried where now all on the cafeteria menu. Unbelievable.


Posted by: KiDNotorious

by "KIDS" what age-range are u refering too?


Posted by: greekblondechic

You guys mock the quote about not fitting into her uniform, but you don't know what it feels like to not be able to wear what all the other girls are wearing..


Posted by: IronSlingah

This article is full of bullshit. Low-carb diets have no negative effect on kids. In fact its been all over these boards that ketogenic diets have been used on kids for decades that have epilepsy and they are perfectly healthy while on the diet.


Posted by: kvyd

I dont think anyone really mocked it.... but no i dont know what it feels like to not be able to wear what all the other girls are wearing..


Posted by: Premo55

Low carb diets are no good for anyone. Just eating a balanced diet with unprocessed, as close to organic as possible foods and getting some activity will solve anyone's dietary problems, regardless of age.

Peace.


Posted by: IronSlingah

Quote:
Originally posted by Premo55
Low carb diets are no good for anyone. Just eating a balanced diet with unprocessed, as close to organic as possible foods and getting some activity will solve anyone's dietary problems, regardless of age.

Peace.
If only we lived in a perfect world.



(Click here to view the original thread with full colors/images)





vBulletin Copyright ©2000 - 2009, Jelsoft Enterprises Limited.


Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.1.0

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37