Healthy Weight Loss
For YOUR Healthy and Life-Long Weight Loss Program!
Tips For Helping Your Overweight Child
More and more children in America are becoming overweight and obese. As parents, it is up to us to teach them good eating habits and proper nutrition, often by example.
One in five children are now overweight, making childhood obesity a major problem in America. Overweight children are at risk for a variety of health problems, including Type II diabetes and heart disease. If you're worried about your child's weight try these 8 tips.
Practice What You Preach: Be sure that you also have the attitude toward food and exercise that you want you children to have. If you tell your children one thing and then do another they will not listen and no matter how good your intentions, it will not be as effective.
Don't Criticize: Never make your child feel as though your love is contingent on their losing weight.
Provide Good Food: Stock your cabinets and refrigerator with healthy food items. Cook nutritional meals and provide healthy snacks.
Create a Healthy Eating Environment: Restrict eating to the dining room or kitchen and have meals as a family whenever possible.
Don't reward OR Punish With Food: Never use food as a reward and don't fall back on that old trick of holding back on desert until a plate is cleaned.
Don't Create Diets: Restrictive diets may lead your child to practice yo-yo dieting and binging later in life. Ask you doctor before implementing any formal diets with your child. You are in control and if you only provide nutritious foods for your child, chances are that will be enough to help.
Be Aware: Be aware of what you child is eating outside your home. If you know that your child is eating snacks and high caloric foods in the school cafeteria, provide a lunch for them rather than giving them money to purchase at school.
Play: Set a good example for your child by engaging in physical activities. Toss a football, play frisbee, or enroll them in Park District programs like soccer, baseball and other sports.
Turn Off The TV: This can be the most important aspect of your child's weight control. Not only is your child merely sitting and not burning as many calories they are also exposed to a barrage of commercials enticing them with unhealthy foods and snacks. Just turning the TV off can gently force your child to look for other forms of entertainment - one that is hopefully better for their physical well-being. Following these basic steps can lead to a healthier weight without a stressful battle for both you and your child.
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