Word to the Wise---
Help Your Children maintain a healthy bodyweight
~ Be supportive. Children know if they are overweight and don't need to be reminded or singled out. They need acceptance, encouragement and love.
~ Set guidelines for the amount of time your children can spend watching television or playing video games.
~ Plan family activities that involve exercise. Instead of watching TV, go hiking or biking, wash the car, or walk around a mall. Offer choices and let your children decide.
~ Be sensitive. Find activities your children will enjoy that aren't difficult or could cause embarrassment.
~ Eat meals together as a family and eat at the table, not in front of a television. Eat slowly and enjoy the food.
~ Don't use food as a reward or punishment. Children should not be placed on restrictive diets, unless done so by a doctor (for medical reasons). Children need food for growth, development and energy.
~ Involve your children in meal planning and grocery shopping. This helps them learn and gives them a role in the decision making.
~ Keep healthy snacks on hand. Good options include fresh, frozen, or canned fruits and vegetables; low-fat cheese, yogurt or ice cream; frozen fruit juice bars; and cookies such as fig bars, graham crackers, gingersnaps or vanilla wafers.
~ Focus on small, gradual changes in eating and activity patterns. This helps form habits that can last a lifetime.
Did You Know That...
Obese children and adolescents have shown an alarming increase in the incidence of type 2 diabetes, also known as adult-onset diabetes.
Many obese children have high cholesterol and blood pressure levels, which are risk factors for heart disease.
One of the most severe problems for obese children is sleep apnea (interrupted breathing while sleeping). In some cases this can lead to problems with learning and memory.
Obese children have a high incidence of orthopedic problems, liver disease, and asthma. Overweight adolescents have a 70 percent chance of becoming overweight or obese adults.
