Obesity means having too much body fat. A child is considered obese if his weight is more than 20 percent higher than the ideal for his age and height. Take note that a child who is just a few pounds overweight is not necessarily obese.
Here are some tips to prevent child obesity:
- Change family behavior. Many behavior contribute to childhood obesity, whether its the amount of time spent in front of TV or computer, or the quality and quantity of food intake. These behaviors or habits are hard to change within a family, especially if members aren’t ready, willing or able to make changes. These might take some getting used to, but be patient and don’t give up.
- Create a health-weight environment. Make healthy food readily available. Integrate exercise and physical activity into the day’s routine. Encourage kids to play outside. Set rules that help reinforce a healthy lifestyle, such as limiting TV time.
- Be a positive role model. Commit to the changes yourself. Your actions teach your child what to eat, how much to eat, and when to eat. You also encourage your child to be physically active everyday if you make it a priority yourself.
- Reward successful changes. Rewards should be consistent with the goal, and given regularly, like on a daily or weekly basis. Celebrating progress can be as simple as offering your child praise and attention. It could be also more involved. Planning an activity the family likes to do together, such as skating or swimming is a good option. Remember not to use food as a reward or punishment.
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