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Pediatric Obesity pp 287–303Cite as

Vegetarian Diets and Pediatric Obesity

Part of the Contemporary Endocrinology book series (COE)

Abstract

Childhood obesity can persist through adulthood with adverse lifelong consequences. Prevention of unnecessary weight gain and overweight/obesity during childhood could mitigate the difficulty of treating adult obesity and its comorbidities. Exposing children to plant-based or vegetarian diets at a relatively young age is a judicious approach that may have long-term beneficial effects in maintaining a healthy weight. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics states that “appropriately planned vegetarian, including vegan, diets are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits for the prevention and treatment of certain diseases” for all life cycle stages. Vegetarian children are relatively leaner and less susceptible to cardio-metabolic risks compared to their non-vegetarian counterparts due to the nature of the foods that comprise their diet. Vegetarian diets are characteristically plant-based, allowing a synergy between nutrients and phytochemicals that confer health benefits. This chapter looks into how vegetarian diets can address pediatric obesity and how to ensure adequate nutrition for vegetarian children.

Keywords

  • Vegetarian
  • Diet
  • Obesity
  • Plant-based
  • Fruit and vegetable intake
  • Children

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Loma Linda University, School of Public Health, Center for Nutrition, Healthy Lifestyle, and Disease Prevention, Loma Linda, CA, USA

    Gina Segovia-Siapco DrPH, MPH, Sarah Jung MA, MS & Joan Sabaté MD, DrPH

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  1. Gina Segovia-Siapco DrPH, MPH
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  2. Sarah Jung MA, MS
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  3. Joan Sabaté MD, DrPH
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Correspondence to Joan Sabaté MD, DrPH .

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  1. Duke University School of Medicine , Durham, North Carolina, USA

    Michael S. Freemark

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Segovia-Siapco, G., Jung, S., Sabaté, J. (2018). Vegetarian Diets and Pediatric Obesity. In: Freemark, M. (eds) Pediatric Obesity. Contemporary Endocrinology. Humana Press, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-68192-4_17

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