title: Health and fitness series--4. Getting children to develop a healthy relationship with food.
abstract: The author, a dietitian, discusses the trend in the UK towards children developing unhealthy relationships with food. This is manifested as overeating leading to overweight or obesity, or a desire, even among younger children, to follow slimming diets that can adversely affect growth and development. Rather than food restriction, a healthy relationship with food involves young people being able to self-regulate their intake and enjoy all the components of a balanced diet. The author emphasises the importance of mothers as role models in helping their children develop a healthy relationship with food. Physical activity should be encouraged, preferably for the whole family.
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ottley
mesh_terms: D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D006113:United Kingdom