One study, posted in a Wall Street Journal article, claims that one-third of U.S. children take vitamins regularly. However, this third is also found to be less likely to "need" them; physical activity, good eating habits, and low computer/television use all tend to be habits that go along with the habit of taking supplements.
This seems ridiculous to me: of course children born into families who are more concerned (and have to capacity to be concerned) with their child's health are more likely to give them vitamins, to "make them healthier/keep them healthy". Families who can't afford vitamins are more likely to not be able to afford expensive, "more healthful" foods for their families; health education is going to fall pretty low on the list of priorities, one of which might be "how am I going to get food on the table tonight?"
With this in mind, vitamins aren't, in my opinion, going to solve an unbalanced diet in either situation; learning how to deal with food and make smart choices will. Easily-accessible programs teaching kids to move around, have unstructured play, and eat well instead of sitting in front of the television all day would be most beneficial...
http://www.newsweek.com/id/183066
This seems ridiculous to me: of course children born into families who are more concerned (and have to capacity to be concerned) with their child's health are more likely to give them vitamins, to "make them healthier/keep them healthy". Families who can't afford vitamins are more likely to not be able to afford expensive, "more healthful" foods for their families; health education is going to fall pretty low on the list of priorities, one of which might be "how am I going to get food on the table tonight?"
With this in mind, vitamins aren't, in my opinion, going to solve an unbalanced diet in either situation; learning how to deal with food and make smart choices will. Easily-accessible programs teaching kids to move around, have unstructured play, and eat well instead of sitting in front of the television all day would be most beneficial...
http://www.newsweek.com/id/183066
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