Why shouldn't fats be restricted in the diet of a healthy child?
Fuel for a child's growth is fats. If a child eats too little fat, growth slows down, the formation of the nervous system is disrupted, immunity decreases, and problems with cognitive development arise. There is no need to be afraid that the little one has gained weight - the body is accumulating fat for the next growth spurt. However, if the child is already insulin resistant due to a high-carbohydrate diet, then instead of growing, they will gain weight.
This logic is fully supported by the physiology of children's growth, energy metabolism, and hormonal regulation.
Fats — fuel for growth
The child's body is growing rapidly: cells are actively dividing, the brain is forming, and the immune, hormonal, and nervous systems are developing. All of this requires not only building materials but also high-density energy, which fats provide much more than carbohydrates:
- 1 g of fat provides 9 kcal, compared to 4 kcal from carbohydrates.
- Fats are involved in the formation of cell membranes, especially in the brain.
- Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are essential for the myelination of neurons, vision, and hormonal balance.
If a child does not get enough fats, the body operates on a starvation diet, which manifests as:
- slowed linear growth,
- problems with concentration and learning,
- increased susceptibility to infections (due to weak immune protection),
- emotional instability and anxiety.
Temporary rounding — a physiological norm
Before each growth spurt, a child may slightly round out. This is not obesity, but an energy investment by the body. Under the influence of growth hormone, this fat is then converted into length, into the growth of the skeleton and organs. Such phases occur before the ages of 3–4, at 6–7 years, and during puberty.
The fear of fat among parents (for example, "fat-free" diets or low-fat products for children) can disrupt this natural cycle.
Insulin resistance disrupts the growth system
When a child's diet is based on frequent carbohydrate snacks, sweet cereals, juices, and pastries, a chronically high level of insulin develops, followed by insulin resistance.
In this case:
- Insulin suppresses growth hormone.
- Lipolysis (fat breakdown) does not start → the body cannot use stored fats.
- Instead of growing taller — fat tissue accumulates, especially in the abdominal area.
- Growth slows down, muscle mass does not increase, and children become lethargic, tired, and anxious.
What parents should consider
- Do not restrict fats in the diet of a healthy child (especially animal and saturated fats: eggs, butter, fatty meat, liver, fish, breast milk).
- Avoid frequent sweet snacks and juices — they maintain high insulin levels.
- Pay attention to growth periods and "rounding" — they are physiological if the diet is balanced.
- Watch for signs of insulin resistance: abdominal obesity, fatigue, poor sleep, hyperactivity, cravings for sweets, growth delay.