Why do children with cystic fibrosis need a high fat diet?
Answered by Christie Graham, Paediatric Dietitian, Barts and The London Children’sHospital. Children with cystic fibrosis should eat a wide variety of foods providing a balanced, high quality diet. Many children with cystic fibrosis need more calories than other children of the same age to grow and gain weight normally due to symptoms of the condition, such as not being able to digest food properly. Most children with cystic fibrosis do not produce enough pancreatic enzymes to digest food. These enzymes are replaced in the form of enzyme capsules taken with meals and snacks, but there is still a loss of energy and fat in the stools. Another reason why children with cystic fibrosis need more calories is that they have a higher risk of developing a chest infection. With an infection, they need more energy to fight it and they may also eat less if they feel unwell. Children with cystic fibrosis can get a high-calorie diet by eating more food than other children of the same age, but some f
