Parents Can Fight Childhood Obesity

It has been widely reported in the media that there is a growing epidemic of childhood obesity in the United States. More and more of our children are overweight to the point of endangering their health.

Obesity is most commonly defined as having a BMI (Body Mass Index) at or above the 95^th percentile for people in the same age range. Disturbingly, the current percentage of people 2-19 years old who qualify as obese is approximately 17%. That percentage represents nearly 12.5 million children and adolescents. This number has tripled since 1980.

Without going into the root or peripheral causes of this growing public health catastrophe, there are some basic things that each and every parent can do to help reduce the likelihood that their own child(ren) will become obese, a condition which is known to jeopardize good health both in childhood as well as in later, adult life.

The following two simple actions can be taken in most homes and while they will not ensure that a child will not become obese, following these guidelines will most definitely reduce the probability.

1. Control what foods are purchased and brought into the home.

In most homes, the adults to the major grocery shopping. Much of what children eat is managed by what foods are available to them in the home. Buying over-processed, sugar and fat-laden things nearly assures that the children will eat them. The suggested rule is:

If you don't want your children to eat something, do not bring it into the home.

2. Eat healthy meals together with the kids.

Modeling works much better as a teaching tool then does talking. Eating healthy foods together with the kids reinforces good eating habits for them. Feeding the children carefully and then eating the "bad" stuff later on will not likely remain a secret and the kids will want it, too. The suggested rule is:

Eat as you want the children to. "Do as I say, not as I do" has never worked and never will.

Parents cannot control everything their children do (or eat), but they can and need to take the responsibility for doing what they can. These two simple actions will help keep the children healthy.