Poor eating habits will affect the way a child grows. When a parent doesn't regard the food or how their child eat when they are younger, this will affect them for the rest of their lives. A child who is allowed to eat nothing but sweets, junk food, and drink soft drinks will become obsessed It is important if you have poor eating habits as a child that you should start to change these habits now before you get into your teens. A boy will normally grow until they are around 19 to 20 years old, while a girl will stop growing when they are around 16. Dieting now as a pre-teen is beneficial for your health and to promote a good dietary balance in your system so you can continue to grow when you reach your teens. If you fail to do this now, it can affect your growth and also your heart. It is best to consider what you eat at an early age so that you can reach your potential height and not have physical illnesses when you get older.