How To Prevent Childhood Obesity and Treat Childhood ObesityIt is easier to prevent childhood obesity than to treat, and part of prevention is for parents to become more educated and take a more active role with their childs health. Some obesity programs for children and adolescents rarely are aimed at weight loss as a goal. However, the focus is to slow or halt weight gain so the child will grow into his or her body weight over a period of months to years. There is considerable evidence that childhood eating and exercise habits are more easily modified than adult habits (Wolf, Cohen, Rosenfeld, 1985). If you know your child is overweight or obese, take the time and effort to reprogram their eating habits and physical life. Here are ways to jump-start the treatment of childhood obesity: Diet Management is a main goal to prevent childhood obesity Gain control of the foods you buy and offer. Starting at the grocery store, limit the amount of the junk foods you purchase. Bring you child to the store so he/she can offer input about the choices you make. Ask your child about healthy alternatives they may enjoy. Fasting or extreme caloric restriction is not advisable for children. However, balanced diets with moderate caloric restrictions, especially reduced dietary fat, have been used successfully in treating obesity (Dietz, 1983). Nutrition education is necessary and a diet management programmed coupled with exercise is an effective treatment for childhood obesity. Watch what your child drinks Because its not technically eating, you might overlook the calorie intake of the liquids your child consumes. Its all too easy to overlook the excess calories by way of sugary drinks, juices and soda. Another simple tip to prevent childhood obesity is to forfeit the drive through lane This is very vital to the health of your overweight or obese child. Eating high-fat foods on the fly is not the way to go, no matter how pressed for time you are. Realize you are dealing with a serious health concern and you need to make a serious effort and time to reteach your child on better eating habits. Turn off the television, cell phones, computers, and video games Never allow this during mealtime. This becomes a mindless habit as children tend to help themselves to more food until the show, game, or phone call is over. Limit your childs portion size plays a big role to prevent childhood obesity America is a country known for overeating because everything comes in large portions. When eating at home as a family, make the plates at the stove, instead of setting the food out on the table. Make proper serving sizes. Be sure to make it a point to eat as a family every evening at dinner. Spend more time talking between bites to make the meal last longer; your child will be forced to eat slower, making this a healthy habit to adopt. Encourage your child to eat slow and stop talking with his/her mouth full even if their plate is empty. It usually takes about twenty to twenty-five minutes for the body to recognize that it is full, and never force the child to clean their plate. If your child wants a second serving have them go play for about twenty minutes. If then he/she is still hungry give them more food. Pack a healthier school lunch is a simple way to prevent childhood obesity A healthy alternative to cold cuts would be pre-grilled chicken breast on whole wheat bread, and some fruit. Skip the potato chips and cookies when packing your childs lunch box. Keep healthy snack choices such as fruits and vegetables available and within eyesight. Children, like adults, are more likely to want what they see. Become Physically Active Getting involved in some form of physical activity or becoming more active, is valuable to burn fat, increase energy, and maintain lost weight. Most studies show that exercise alone can not improve weight lost alone unless coupled with another intervention, such as nutrition education and behavior modification. But a good way to get your child more active and moving is to take a family walk after dinner. Even ten to fifteen minutes a day can greatly reduce the risk of obesity. Some Quick References Dietz, W.H. (1983) Childhood obesity: Susceptibility, cause, and management. Journal of Pediatrics, 103(5), 676-686 Wolf, M.C., Cohen, K.P., and Rosenfeld, J.G (1985) School-based interventions for obesity: Current approaches and future prospects. Psychology in the Schools, 22, 187-200. Bouchard, C., (1990) The response to long-term overfeeding in identical twins. The New England Journal of Medicine, 322(21), 1477-1482.
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