Dieting in children: a population-based study in children aged between 9 and 12 years

Aim: Dieting can be a burden for the child and can have side effects. Insight into dieting is therefore important. A recent study showed that 13.7% (95% CI 11.5–15.9%) of the children referred to a general paediatric outpatient clinic were or had been on a diet. However, it is unknown how many children in a random population are or have been on a diet. Methods: Parents of children in the fifth grade of primary schools in the Dutch province of Friesland were asked to complete a structured questionnaire. Results: From 2500 questionnaires 90% were returned. Two hundred and thirty‐one children aged between 9 and 12 years had been on a diet (10.3%, 95% CI 9.0%–11.6%). A cow's milk free diet was used most frequently (50% of the dieting children). Other diets were: diets excluding additives (16%), peanuts (16%), sugar (15%) and lactose (11%). Conclusion: The use of diets by children in a general population is widespread: one in every ten children was or had been on a diet. Due to the known health risks associated with diets excluding one or more foods, such diets should only be advised by healthcare professionals.