4 Strategies For Preventing Childhood Obesity
Childhood obesity has been in the news in recent years as this country’s children are struggling with their weight. For some, it is so serious they have medical issues that are the result of being obese. Like anything that can become a problem, it is easier to prevent it than to try to get rid of it. The best thing you can do is help your child stay healthy and avoid behaviors that can lead to obesity.
The first thing that you can do is take your child to the doctor once a year for a physical. He will let you know if your child is at a healthy weight. He can also make sure that any weight problem is not caused by a medical issue, as well as advise you on what can be done if your child does need to lose weight.
Feed your child a health diet. Teach them how to make healthy choices and how to enjoy items that are not as healthy in moderation. Fast food is a big problem when it comes to Americans. Limit eating out and eating at school cafeterias, unless their food options are healthy.
Physical activity is important to your child’s overall health and not just their weight. A child should get about 5-7 hours of physical activity every week. Make this fun. Do things with your child that will engage them. It will not seem like an effort if you do a variety of activities and do them together.
Limit the amount of time that your child spends in front of the television, computer or video game terminal. These are one of the biggest contributors to overweight children. The time that children used to spend engaged in physical activity is spent in front of a screen now. There are lots of ways to have fun and not all of them involve a screen.
Most people have enough common sense to know what causes individuals to be overweight. It is changing the behaviors that is the tough part. Make small changes and you will soon see a difference in the health and weight of your child.