Draft Australian Dietary Guidelines (PDF, 3MB) - Eat For Health

development. During periods of rapid growth, intentional restriction of weight gain - throughdieting, for example - is usually inappropriate.In recent years there has been increasing awareness of the importance of perinatal nutrition interms of the development of disease in adulthood, known as foetal origins of disease or Barkerhypothesis [837]. There is also increasing evidence of the importance of growth and optimumnutrition in relation to cognitive development [838] and future bone mass [839].4.4.4.1 GrowthRelative to their body weight, children’s nutrient and energy requirements are greater than thoseof adults [9]. Children are nutritionally vulnerable up to around five years of age, after which theirgrowth rate slows and their nutritional needs reduce relative to their body size. As a child’s rateof growth is a fundamental indicator of nutritional status and health and wellbeing, parents andcarers and health professionals must be responsive to the developmental and nutritional needs ofchildren.Between birth and 18 years of age, body weight increases about twenty-fold. During infancy andadolescence the rate of growth can change rapidly, while from 12 months of age the rate ofincrease in weight and length is essentially linear. Growth decelerates rapidly during the first yearof life. During adolescence it accelerates over one to three years and then decelerates rapidly untilgrowth 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 isimportant in establishing lifetime nutrition practices. Food intake may drop off during the secondyear of life, when parents’ skills of encouragement and example will be needed. After startingschool, children are subject to an increasing array of influences from outside the home, particularlypeer pressure which peaks in adolescence.4.4.4.2 Dietary patterns for achieving and maintaining a healthy weight in infants,children and adolescentsFoundation Diets represent the basis of optimum diets for infants, children and adolescents.However sufficient nutritious foods must be provided to support optimum growth anddevelopment in all children.For the youngest, shortest or least active in each age and sex group, dietary modelling suggeststhat there is no opportunity for additional energy intake beyond Foundation Diets unless increasedphysical activity increases energy expenditure and requirement. For these children Foundation Dietsare equivalent to Total Diets.DRAFT Australian Dietary Guidelines- December 2011 126