The American Dietetic Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that children who are overweight or have high cholesterol eat a low-fat diet with less than 30% of calories from fat. But New York researchers recently found that some parents who put their children on a low-fat diet may unknowingly deprive their child of essential nutrients such as zinc (essential for growth, development and a strong immune system) and vitamin E (a vitamin that may protect against certain diseases).

In a study published in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, researchers compared the diets of 46 children with high cholesterol to the diets of 34 healthy children, using food records that included information about the child's calorie intake and consumption of fat, carbohydrates, protein, essential fatty acids, vitamins, calcium, iron and zinc.

The children who had high cholesterol ate fewer calories, and the percentage of calories from fat was significantly lower when compared to the diets of the healthy children. Children who ate low-fat diets ate less cholesterol than the healthy children, and their diets were composed of a higher percentage of carbohydrates, much of which was in the form of sugar. In addition the children who had high cholesterol had lower intakes of zinc, vitamin E and iron when compared to the comparison group of children. Zinc and vitamin E are often found in oils, milk, meat and eggs, which are foods rich in dietary fat.

If your child is overweight or has weight-related health problems such as high cholesterol, you may be tempted to encourage your child to overrestrict calories from fat, which may limit your child's intake of important nutrients such as zinc and vitamin E. If your child's doctor recommends your child eat a low-fat diet, seek nutritional counseling from a registered dietitian who specializes in kids and teens. He or she will help you and your child develop a food plan that incorporates the necessary vitamins, minerals and nutrients.

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