How to develop a child’s preference for healthy foods for life

Your child’s preference for healthy foods is in your hands

When your child’s cuteness overload can be a cause for concern. Little children’s full cheeks, chubby arms and legs may look cute and show that they are well-fed and well taken care of, but that adorable baby fat may be a health risk and a cause for concern.

Childhood obesity, a global pandemic. Childhood obesity has reached epidemic levels globally and today nearly one in four children and teens are overweight or obese.^{1, 2}

Obese children likely to stay obese into adulthood. 55% of obese children will be obese teens and 80% of obese teens will remain obese into adulthood.³

Consequence of childhood obesity. Apart from affecting social skills, emotional well-being and self-esteem, being overweight or obese in childhood is also associated with poor academic performance and a lower quality of life experienced by the child. Being overweight is also associated with a weak immune response and an increased risk of childhood infection and diseases.⁴ In later life, obese children are more likely to develop chronic diseases such as diabetes, as well as cardiovascular, orthopaedic, neurological, hepatic, pulmonary and renal disorders.⁵

What causes obesity. Obesity is a complex disorder with multiple causes that include genetics, a lack of physical activity, and a poor diet. Supporting evidence shows that excessive consumption of added sugars has played a major role in the rising rates of obesity.⁶

The bulk of added sugars in children’s diet comes from beverages such as sugar-sweetened sodas and milk.⁷

An intake of added sugars in early life creates a preference for sweet foods throughout life. Food preferences in children first start in the womb with the diet of their mother, and after birth with their early childhood diet.⁸ Early exposure to sweetened food, or food with added sugars during processing or preparation, can lead to an increased preference for sweet foods throughout life.^9-11

What parents can do to develop their children’s preference for healthy foods.

It is important to have a balanced diet during pregnancy as a child’s sense of taste and smell develops before birth.¹² Research has shown that pregnant mothers’ food choices mould their unborn child’s food preferences. This is referred to as “programming”.¹³

While a child is able to perceive flavours while still in the womb, their sense of taste continues to evolve throughout childhood. A varied diet low in processed foods and added sugars is important in shaping a child’s healthy food preferences and will have a lasting impact on their life.

At HiPP, children are the focus of our attention by carefully selecting ingredients that are closest to nature. HiPP Organic Combiotic^® contains only natural lactose and no added sugars. Give your child HiPP Organic Combiotic^®.  Help support your child’s health and development with organic and naturally sourced ingredients.

¹ Popkin BM, Doak CM. The obesity epidemic is a worldwide phenomenon. Nutr Rev. 1998;56(4 Pt 1):106-114.

² NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC). Worldwide trends in body-mass index, underweight, overweight, and obesity from 1975 to 2016: a pooled analysis of 2416 population-based measurement studies in 128·9 million children, adolescents, and adults. Lancet. 2017;390(10113):2627-2642.

³ Simmonds M, Llewellyn A, Owen CG, Woolacott N. Predicting adult obesity from childhood obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Obes Rev. 2016;17(2):95-107.

⁴ Frydrych LM, Bian G, O'Lone DE, Ward PA, Delano MJ. Obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus drive immune dysfunction, infection development, and sepsis mortality. J Leukoc Biol. 2018;104(3):525-534.

⁵ Sahoo K, Sahoo B, Choudhury AK, Sofi NY, Kumar R, Bhadoria AS. Childhood obesity: causes and consequences. J Family Med Prim Care. 2015;4(2):187-192.

⁶ Drewnowski A. The real contribution of added sugars and fats to obesity. Epidemiol Rev. 2007;29:160-171.

⁷ Bellisle F, Drewnowski A. Intense sweeteners, energy intake and the control of body weight. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2007;61(6):691-700.

⁸ Mennella JA, Beauchamp GK. Early flavor experiences: research update. Nutr Rev. 1998;56(7):205-211.

⁹ Beauchamp GK, Moran M. Dietary experience and sweet taste preference in human infants. Appetite. 1982;3(2):139-152.

¹⁰ Beauchamp GK, Moran M. Acceptance of sweet and salty tastes in 2-year-old children. Appetite. 1984;5(4):291-305.

¹¹ Liem DG, de Graaf C. Sweet and sour preferences in young children and adults: role of repeated exposure. Physiol Behav. 2004;83(3):421-429.

¹² Robinson S, Fall C. Infant nutrition and later health: a review of current evidence. Nutrients. 2012;4(8):859-874.

¹³ Muniandy ND, Allotey PA, Soyiri IN, Reidpath DD. Complementary feeding and the early origins of obesity risk: a study protocol. BMJ Open. 2016;6(11):e011635. Published 2016 Nov 15.