Kids Need Diet Plus Exercise For Weight Loss

Just as adults need to combine dieting with exercise for effective weight loss, a new study in JAMA Pediatrics shows the same for kids. The study was a meta-analysis of 15 studies, and they compared calorie restriction (dieting) to a calorie restriction and exercise combination. The researchers used the following markers to make their conclusions: BMI, body fat percentage, lean body mass, HDL, LDL, triglycerides, fasting glucose, and fasting insulin. Diet interventions alone had a positive impact on health, but the combination of diet and exercise together was more effective at weight loss and improved metabolic profiles.

A healthy lifestyle is not just one intervention; a combination of factors is needed at every age and stage of life. In today’s society, children sit for a large proportion of their day. For optimal health, make sure that children stay active and eat as healthy a diet as possible.