Bad food choices

High-fat, high-calorie foods, commonly described as ‘energy dense’ because they are highly calorific without being correspondingly filling, have become a staple of the British diet. And it is a simple truth that if a child consumes more calories than he burns he will become overweight.

There are other factors that also affect the likelihood of a child piling on the pounds – body type, home life, activity levels etc. – but even if your child can eat junk food like there’s no tomorrow and still look like a string bean, this kind of diet will be damaging his physical well-being and storing up health problems for the future.

So why are children overeating?

- Grazing and snacking rather than eating regular main meals has become the norm.

- Until recent initiatives, such as the Jamie Oliver’s School Dinners campaign, food and drink provided in schools has been heavy in fat, salt and sugar.

- Many schools now provide vending machines for students.

- Families no longer eat together. It has become commonplace for family members to grab food to fit in with their schedules and many children and adults eat in front of the television or ‘on the run’.

- Portion sizes have grown substantially in the last 20 years. As a result, many families are out of touch with what constitutes a normal portion.

- Food manufacturers target children and influence their food preferences with clever advertising and marketing campaigns.