| Childhood obesity remains to be a problem that | | | | television or the computer, take the TV or the |
| needs to be addressed, because it poses a threat to | | | | computer outside of his/her room, and set curfews |
| the survival of our future generations. In the US | | | | on how much time he or she can spend on these |
| alone, the prevalence of childhood obesity has | | | | activities. |
| increased about three times in the past thirty years. | | | | 2. Suggest outdoor physical activities. |
| Most parents know that obesity in children can lead | | | | There are many outdoor activities that your family |
| to chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, | | | | can get involved in, such as swimming, bowling, |
| hypertension and high cholesterol levels. Some | | | | badminton, or simply spending an afternoon in the |
| parents may think that it is alright for children to be | | | | park. These are not just ways for your child to lose |
| overweight and will just put their kids on weight loss | | | | weight, but these activities also provide opportunities |
| programs when they grow older. However, as others | | | | for family bonding. Make sure the activities are safe |
| have realized, once children already have learned bad | | | | for your children and that they are always |
| eating habits when they were young, it becomes | | | | supervised, especially when doing activities that may |
| almost impossible to change these habits as they | | | | be quite risky. |
| grow older. There is never a better time to start an | | | | 3. Set a good example. |
| obese child into a fat loss program than now. | | | | It will be quite difficult teaching your child about |
| On top of the health concerns that obese children | | | | nutrition and calories, if you, yourself do not practice |
| are facing, there are also some social issues that | | | | what you preach. For instance, do not limit your |
| they have to deal with. For instance, most of obese | | | | child's fast food intake, if you keep having your lunch |
| children can not join social activities in school such as | | | | at a hamburger store. Instead, show ways to have |
| sports, dancing, swimming competitions because of | | | | healthy and delicious meals that have lower calories. |
| their weight. Most of them would have to deal with | | | | Teach your child to appreciate weight loss by physical |
| social stigma and even bullying on a daily basis from | | | | exercise, by getting on a regular exercise regimen |
| their peers at school. Some had also displayed | | | | yourself. |
| depression, because of the impacts of being | | | | Even little steps like encouraging your child to give up |
| overweight and will usually have some social | | | | junk foods, and rewarding him or her with a favorite |
| adaptation issues later on. | | | | toy once this goal is achieved will help. Instead of |
| As a parent, there are some things you can do to | | | | buying foods as gifts, buy sports equipment, instead, |
| help your child beat obesity. Here are just a few of | | | | such as a baseball bat or a new pair of swimming |
| them: | | | | goggles, that can encourage your child to get into |
| 1. Keep television and video time to a minimum. | | | | physical activity. |
| Television and video games are the most common | | | | Above all, never put down your kids for being fat, |
| reasons why kids are inactive nowadays. They live | | | | and instead, just keep suggesting and doing things |
| sedentary lives, instead of being physically active. If | | | | that can help your child beat obesity. |
| your child is spending too much time in front of the | | | | |