Childhood Obesity: How to Prevent Childhood Obesity?

Childhood Obesity: How to Prevent Childhood Obesity?

Childhood obesity is a growing epidemic in the U.S. and it is a very serious issue which can lead to many health and social consequences which can cause problems later in life. It is important that we create prevention programs and get a better understanding of childhood obesity. However it is not as simple as this as the science behind childhood obesity is highly challenging and can vary between individuals. However medical advices and common sense are usually the safest and most effective ways of reducing childhood obesity in your child.

Childhood obesity is a common problem. Children need to be taught to develop good eating habits, in doing this it will avoid them gaining excess weight. Parents can check with their child's doctor to confirm that his/her obesity is not due to genetics or some other medical problem. Parents can help their children by being supportive of them, making sure that no one as well as the parents is making fun of their children. Explain why their child will have to lose weight, gather family support for their child. The parents must also be a role model and show good eating habits.

Children need to grow vertically, not horizontally. Parents should never put their child on a strict diet, maintaining the food pyramid of carbohydrates, proteins, fats and oils and vitamins and minerals. This is necessary for a balanced diet, reducing the serving of fatty foods and removing empty calories from junk food like sweets and snacks. Improvise to give their child healthy snacks like milk, fruits or gram crackers, do not eliminate their sweets totally because their child will feel miserable of this deprivation. Limit the amount to be consumed over a week, slowly replacing the sweets with dried fruits to wean off the sweet tooth. Fruhbeck, G. (2000).

Do not use food to punish or reward a child, they may overeat unnecessarily. Parents should keep a lock on the pantry, leaving healthy snacks readily available on the kitchen counter of fridge. Teaching the child to appreciate healthy meals by encouraging involvement in meal reparations and not allowing their child to eat in front of the television. This makes a bad habit of always eating whenever the television is on. Teach the child what foods to buy when they is eating outside the home. If fast food is a must for the child, then limit the meal to small portions, another trick is make the child drink a glass of water or milk before the meal. Children will not feel as hungry as to gobble down more food than sufficient to satisfy their hunger. Ambroz, T. (2012).

Children need varieties in their menu; parents can improvise and invent healthy meals. Emphasize the importance of vegetables as children tend to hate green and stuff themselves with meats. Do some exercise together as a family, it promotes bonding too. Get into some fun activities