DRAFT Australian Dietary Guidelines - Eat For Health

For older, taller or more active children in each age and sex group, additional serves of foods from
the five food groups (preferably) and/or discretionary food choices may be made to increase
energy intake until energy requirements are met [10]. Growth and weight of children should be
checked regularly (as outlined in Appendix 3) and the amount and/or quality of diet and physical
activity levels adjusted accordingly [10].
Compared to current intakes, Foundation Diets for infants, children and adolescents include higher
quantities of vegetables, fruit, wholegrain cereals, poultry, fish, eggs and low-fat milk, yoghurt and
cheese products, and include lower quantities of starchy vegetables, refined cereals, higher and
medium fat milk, yoghurt and cheese products. For children, as for adults, decreased consumption
of discretionary food choices is needed to achieve the dietary patterns in the Australian Guide to
Healthy Eating, together with a change from refined grain (cereal) foods to wholegrain cereals and
from higher fat to lower fat milk, yoghurt and cheese products for children over 2 years of age.
Recommended quantities of specific food groups to suit those preferring an omnivorous, lacto-ovo
vegetarian diet or a dietary pattern that favours rice or pasta are included in the Foundation Diets
for infants, children and adolescents set out in the Food Modelling document [10].
4.4.4.3 Dietary patterns for weight loss in children and adolescents who are
already overweight and obese
Management of overweight and obesity in childhood is recommended to reduce risk of being
overweight in later life (see evidence above). Individual assessment and clinical supervision is
recommended to ensure appropriate growth and development, for weight management of all
overweight and obese infants, children and adolescents.
Parental overweight or obesity is associated with increased risk of overweight or obesity in
children, with even greater risk when both parents are overweight or obese. A family-focused
approach to weight management has been found to be beneficial [795-798].
Dietary restriction beyond prudent adherence to the Foundation Diets and limited intake of
discretionary foods and drinks is not recommended for infants, children or adolescents, as this
may result in nutrient deficiencies and sub-optimal growth and development. Adherence to
Foundation Diets should assist maintenance of body weight during growth for overweight children -
with the aim to maintain weight while the child grows in height thus ‘normalising’ BMI for age.
To help achieve a healthy weight, most Australian infants, children and adolescents should also
follow the recommendations of the Australian physical activity guidelines (see Appendix 4).
DRAFT Australian Dietary Guidelines- December 2011 127