1. Childhood Obesity is a Significant Health Problem
More children today are overweight than ever before. In addition to the low self-esteem, anxiety and depression that overweight children experience, obesity can lead to other serious health problems, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Although genetics often play a role in causing childhood obesity, poor diet and lack of exercise are sometimes equally to blame. Childhood obesity prevention is a way of life that promotes your child’s health.
2. Healthy Diet Can Aid Childhood Obesity Prevention
OK, your child may be tired of hearing it, but it’s true: Healthy foods are good. Clean out the junk food--filled with excessive empty calories--from your refrigerator and cupboards and replace it with fresh fruit, vegetables, whole-grain crackers, skim milk and low-fat yogurt. By purchasing only nutritious foods, you are making an investment in your child’s healthy future. Why spend money on food that can make her sick? That doesn’t mean that cookies, cake and candy have to be banned forever. Save them for special occasions like birthdays and holidays, and your child will appreciate them even more. Avoiding junk food also may help him cut down on dental problems like plaque and cavities. Another bonus: You may lose weight yourself since you won’t be tempted to snack on unhealthy foods if they’re not in your house.
3. Exercise Also Key to Childhood Obesity Prevention
The overwhelming popularity of video and computer games may be leading to a generation of largely sedentary children. How many times has your child come in from playing outside to ask if she can play a video game instead? Experts say that parents should allow elementary-school children no more than one to two hours a day of screen time. And these activities should never take the place of physical activity. You don’t need to sign up your 8-year-old up at the local gym to prevent childhood obesity. Just get him outside and moving. Play basketball, take the dog for a walk or go for a bike ride. If the weather is bad, dancing can be done anywhere. Most communities have bowling alleys and ice-skating rinks where your child can get moving with other children. If your child must do video games, consider getting her one of the active systems now available and may actually aid in preventing childhood obesity.
4. It’s Easier to Practice Childhood Obesity Prevention
Losing weight is hard work. Preventing excess pounds in the first place may not be a piece of cake—no pun intended—but it is easier than taking them off once they’ve settled on your child. If you’ve ever tried to slim down, you’ll probably agree that the cure is much more difficult than prevention when it comes to extra weight.
5. It’s Not Always Baby Fat
While you may be tempted to view your overweight child as having baby fat that she’ll outgrow, remember that childhood obesity causes future health problems. Excess weight can strain the heart and developing bones and set the stage for future diseases.
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