DRAFT Australian Dietary Guidelines - Eat For Health

development. During periods of rapid growth, intentional restriction of weight gain - through
dieting, for example - is usually inappropriate.
In recent years there has been increasing awareness of the importance of perinatal nutrition in
terms of the development of disease in adulthood, known as foetal origins of disease or Barker
hypothesis [837]. There is also increasing evidence of the importance of growth and optimum
nutrition in relation to cognitive development [838] and future bone mass [839].
4.4.4.1 Growth
Relative to their body weight, children’s nutrient and energy requirements are greater than those
of adults [9]. Children are nutritionally vulnerable up to around five years of age, after which their
growth rate slows and their nutritional needs reduce relative to their body size. As a child’s rate
of growth is a fundamental indicator of nutritional status and health and wellbeing, parents and
carers and health professionals must be responsive to the developmental and nutritional needs of
children.
Between birth and 18 years of age, body weight increases about twenty-fold. During infancy and
adolescence the rate of growth can change rapidly, while from 12 months of age the rate of
increase in weight and length is essentially linear. Growth decelerates rapidly during the first year
of life. During adolescence it accelerates over one to three years and then decelerates rapidly until
growth in height ceases at about 16 years in girls and 18 years in boys.
Childhood is a period of education about eating and good nutrition, so appropriate use of food is
important in establishing lifetime nutrition practices. Food intake may drop off during the second
year of life, when parents’ skills of encouragement and example will be needed. After starting
school, children are subject to an increasing array of influences from outside the home, particularly
peer pressure which peaks in adolescence.
4.4.4.2 Dietary patterns for achieving and maintaining a healthy weight in infants,
children and adolescents
Foundation Diets represent the basis of optimum diets for infants, children and adolescents.
However sufficient nutritious foods must be provided to support optimum growth and
development in all children.
For the youngest, shortest or least active in each age and sex group, dietary modelling suggests
that there is no opportunity for additional energy intake beyond Foundation Diets unless increased
physical activity increases energy expenditure and requirement. For these children Foundation Diets
are equivalent to Total Diets.
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