Childhood Obesity and How to Overcome It

We all suffer at one point or another in the battle against weight gain, but who is hurting the most? Our children are reaping the effects of our eating habits and are becoming more overweight each day. Childhood obesity has skyrocketed and has reached all-time highs. Obesity has doubled in our children and has tripled for American teens in the past 20 years. It is reported that approximately 25 million children and adolescents are overweight in the U.S.

How do you gain control of this and how do you know if your child's weight gain is normal? Growing children generally need more nutrients than adults do. Despite this, most children are eating nutrient shallow foods that are packed with unnecessary fats and sugars and lack the vitamins and minerals needed to support healthy growth. In this fast-paced society most parents are too busy to cook or provide their children with healthy foods. Instead, children get pre-packaged foods and snacks. Along with this, children are far more sedentary than they used to be. As a result of video games, television and computers, children are not as involved in recreational activities and sports. While genetics or disorders play a big role in a person's weigh, combine unhealthy eating and a sedentary lifestyle and you have yourself an overweight individual.

It is wise to consult with your doctor to determine if your child is overweight and if they are healthy enough to exercise before taking steps to correct the issue. As parents, one of the best things we can do for our children is provide them with nutritious meals, and make sure they stay physically active. Research shows that individuals who are physically active as children are more likely to stay active as adults. Encourage your children to participate in sports at school. Find out what they are interested in and sign them up for extra curricular activities or city leagues. Staying physically active yourself will set a great example for your children and will help encourage and motivate them to get active themselves. Children often need to be provided the opportunity to exercise and be active. A little bit of exercise is better than no exercise at all.

Since children grow so much and therefore need more nutrition, it is best to provide them with healthy, nutrient rich foods, rather than restricting their caloric intake. Unless your child's calorie intake is significantly too high, simply changing their diet may be enough to make a difference. Weight loss for children should be very slow, and not usually attempted in children under 7 years of age, unless there are major health concerns. Unless your child needs to lose a large amount of weight, focusing on healthy eating, rather than restricted eating, is recommended. Getting your child to change their eating habits can be a very difficult task. Try going to the grocery store without them if you usually do take them along. Substitute fruits for desert and if snacks are needed, choose those that are low in fat and sugars. Sit down for dinner and make time to eat slowly. Limit the amount of times you eat out and discourage eating in front of the television.
Make healthy living a family effort. This will not only give you better chances for success but will also benefit the entire family. It will also prevent your child from feeling singled out and will help you hold each other accountable. Make it a lifelong effort and stay committed. Good results are sure to follow!

www.mayoclinic.com/health/childhood-obesity
www.cdc.gov/healthy/youth/overweight