Queensland Paediatric Rehabilitation Service

Weight management for children with

cerebral palsy
Children with cerebral palsy (CP) may have difficulty achieving a healthy weight. This could be due to
a number of reasons such as reduced physical activity, medications, altered metabolism. Maintaining
a healthy weight for height is important for good health. It is important to establish a healthy eating pattern
and lifestyle during childhood and encourage this for life.

What to do:
 Aim to keep weight stable until height catches up
 Limit intake of high fat snack foods
 Try to use non-food items (eg praise, stickers or books) for rewards or treats
 Set a good example for your child
 Encourage your child to learn to recognise feelings of hunger and fullness
 Involve the whole family in diet and lifestyle changes
 Follow a healthy eating pattern with regular meals and healthy snacks

What NOT to do:

 Do not place your child on a very restrictive diet. This can result in a poor nutrient intake, as well as
affecting the child’s growth rate
 Do not aim for weight loss
 Do not make negative comments about weight or size
 Do not single a child out as being ‘on a diet’

What healthy snacks can I offer my child?

Choose snack foods based on breads, fruit, vegetables and low fat or reduced fat dairy foods that are filling and
nutritious. These may include:
 Fresh fruit
 Low-fat yoghurt
 Slice of fruit loaf/bun/raisin bread
 Pikelets
 Fruit/date/pumpkin or plain scones
 Toasted muffin with a thin spread of fruit spread
 Rice cakes/corn thins

What drinks are recommended?

 Water should be encouraged as your child’s main drink
 Limit cordial, soft drink and fruit juice
 Reduced fat milk can be offered to children from 2 years.
 Skim milk may be offered from 5 years

Remember if your child has a feeding or swallowing problem, your child’s food or drinks may need to
be modified to a different texture or fluid thickness. Please check this with your speech pathologist.

www.childrens.health.qld.gov.au
 Weight management for children with cerebral palsy

What are occasional foods?

Processed foods high in fat and/or sugar should only be eaten occasionally. These include potato crisps, chocolate
bars, cakes, pastries, doughnuts, sweet biscuits, pies, sausage rolls and fried takeaway foods.

Nutrition tips
 Fruit has more fibre and fewer calories than fruit
juice. Make fruit a regular lunch box item.
 Use only small amounts of oil, margarine and
butter
 Have plenty of fruit and vegetables available
Did you know that a can of soft drink and fruit
juice contains 9 to 14 teaspoons of sugar?
 Label reading – check the nutrition panel and
choose products with <10g fat per 100g/100ml.
 Choose lean cuts of meat rather than sausages
and processed meats
 Switch from white bread to wholemeal or
multigrain bread
 Eat wholegrain cereal for breakfast

What activity is recommended?

Ask your physiotherapist and occupational therapist for suggestions regarding physical activities suitable for your
child’s age and level of physical ability.
Regular exercise and activity is an essential part of maintaining a healthy weight and good health.
 Aim for 60 minutes a day of ‘huff and puff’ activities.
 Limit time spent watching TV, playing computer games and similar activities to a maximum of two hours
per day.
 Daily exercise should be encouraged. It is important to involve the whole family in the activity.

Some activity ideas

 Basketball  Leisure activities  Take pet for a walk
 Walk on bike path  Swimming  Sporting activities
 Ride a trike/bike  Obstacle courses
 Go to the gym  Dancing

Contact us
Queensland Paediatric Rehabilitation Service
Level 6g, Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital, 501 Stanley Street, South Brisbane 4101
t 07 3068 2950 | 07 3068 1111 (general enquiries) | f 07 3068 3909 | e qprs@health.qld.gov.au
All information contained in this sheet has been supplied by qualified professionals as a guideline for care only. Seek medical advice,
as appropriate, for concerns regarding your child’s health.

Fact sheet developed by the Queensland Paediatric Rehabilitation Service. Updated: October 2015

References:
Nutrition Education Materials Online Paediatric Group, (2009), Healthy Eating and Weight Control in Children, Queensland Health.
Department of Health and Ageing, National Health and Medical Research Council, (2005), Dietary Guidelines for Australians – A guide to
healthy eating, Canberra.
World Health Organisation (2009) Recommended Amount of Physical Activity
http://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/factsheet_recommendations/en/print.html
Department of Health and Ageing, (2004) Australia’s Physical Activity Recommendations, Canberra

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