Why is necessary to monitor the calorie intake of children

People absorb this energy from food and drink. If people consumed only the number of calories needed every day, they would probably have healthy lives. Calorie consumption that is too low or too high will eventually lead to health problems.

The number of calories in food tells us how much potential energy they contain. It is not only calories that are important, but also the substance from which the calories are taken. As an example, here is the breakdown of how a person would get calories from one cup of large eggs , weighing g:. As people get older, they tend to get fewer of their daily calories from fast foods. Fast foods make up only 6 percent of the daily calorie intake of older adults.

However, with the number of highly calorific meals served in restaurants or aimed at younger individuals, it is important that people pay close attention to where they get their calories.

Researchers at Tel Aviv University wrote in the journal Obesity that a large breakfast containing approximately kcal is ideal for losing weight and lowering the risk of diabetes , heart disease , and high cholesterol.

A large breakfast may help to control body weight. When people eat matters as much as what they eat. Empty calories are those that provide energy but very little nutritional value. The parts of food that provide empty calories contain virtually no dietary fiber, amino acids, antioxidants , dietary minerals, or vitamins. According to ChooseMyPlate. Added sugars and solid fats are said to make foods and drinks more enjoyable.

Obes Rev. Department of Health and Human Services and U. Department of Agriculture. Ninth Edition. December Updated January 22, Kumar S, Kelly AS.

Review of childhood obesity: From epidemiology, etiology, and comorbidities to clinical assessment and treatment. Mayo Clin Proc. Ultra-processed food consumption and its effects on anthropometric and glucose profile: A longitudinal study during childhood. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. For children and adolescents. Baranowski T. Increasing physical activity among children and adolescents: Innovative ideas needed. J Sport Health Sci. Your Privacy Rights.

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I Accept Show Purposes. Overview Do you know how many calories your kids need each day? How to Make Calorie Calculations for Kids. Step 1: The chart below can give you a general idea of how many calories your child needs per day based on his or her age range, gender, and physical activity level.

Walking to school is an example of being moderately active. Playing a game of basketball is an example of being vigorously active. Step 2: After you find out how many calories your child needs, use the chart below to help you plan how much food from each food group to serve each day. Keep in mind that if your child consumes extra calories beyond what is needed, the calories need to be burned off with extra physical activity.

Extra calories can quickly add up depending on what your children eat or drink. For example, if your child eats or drinks an extra calories each day but does not burn them off, that's an extra calories each week, an extra 2, each month 4 weeks , or an extra 36, calories each year. Step 3: Ask your child's doctor if you have any questions. Remember, these 2 charts are only a guide and each child's needs are different. As a result, your child must choose between being criticized for leaving food on his plate, or for overeating and running the risk of obesity.

Weighing your children occasionally is one way for you to monitor your youngsters' nutrition. There is rarely a reason for you to count calories for your children, since most youngsters control their intake quite well. As the middle years progress, children's total energy needs will increase and thus their food intake will rise, especially as they approach puberty.

Between ages seven and ten, both boys and girls consume about 1, to 2, calories per day, although caloric needs obviously vary considerably even under normal circumstances. During this time of rapid growth, they will probably require more total calories and nutrients than at any other period in their lives—from calcium to encourage bone growth, to protein to build body tissue.

At most ages boys require more calories than girls, primarily because of their larger body size. A child who spends the afternoon doing homework, for example, may have fewer caloric needs than one who plays outdoors after school.

Every child's caloric needs are different.