Eating habits are very crucial for the overall growth of the child, and it is quite obvious that apart from obesity, there are a number of other chronic diseases that are readily associated with bad eating habits of children. A recent study has suggested that these eating habits only get worse as kids grow older, apart from a worrying factor that notices the intake of fruits and vegetables among the US kids lowered quite significantly. 

Nicole Larson, M.P.H., who is the lead researchers of this study, states, “Fruit and vegetable intake is important for the prevention of future chronic disease. So it’s important to know whether intakes of teens are approaching national objectives for fruit and vegetable consumption.”

The study has been conducted by Larson and colleagues from the University of Minnesota–the study is geared to examine whether or not teens in the state were increasing their intake of fruits and vegetables as recommended by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Healthy People 2010 objectives and Dietary Guidelines for Americans. However, contrary to the recommendations, the intake of fruits and vegetables is found to be decreasing even from a level which was recorded in 1999.

“This is giving us the message that we need new and enhanced efforts to increase fruit and vegetable intake that we haven’t been doing in the past,” Larson said.

A person who is knowledgeable in the field of diet and fitness knows easily that fruits and vegetables are quite important to make a balance diet. However, it is admittable that during the phase of such a fast life-style, the consumption of fruits and vegetables would be less. But the magnitude of reduction is stunning and the efforts of health department in recommending the use of these food items is not achieving its results.