Weight loss help for kids usually starts with changes in the family diet and lifestyle. According to MayoClinic.com, children should not be put on restrictive diets when they are overweight. Instead, physical activity should be increased and excessive sugar and fat from fast food and processed food should be reduced. A family strategy that includes eating and exercising changes provides a foundation on which children can build and maintain through adulthood.
Considerations
Family shopping and eating habits provide the most important influence on kids' eating habits. According to MayoClinic.com, parents who purchase high-calorie snack foods and give their children access to convenient foods high in fat place their kids in danger of becoming obese. Children of obese parents have a higher risk of being overweight because of the habits ingrained in the family's lifestyle.
Warning
Childhood obesity leads to a variety of other medical conditions that can follow children into adulthood. A hormonal imbalance can occur that causes puberty to start earlier than normal. Other medical conditions associated with childhood obesity include type 2 diabetes, sleep disorders, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. According to MayoClinic.com, children who are overweight are more susceptible to developing asthma and other breathing disorders.
Effects
Parents and caregivers play a vital role in helping kids lose weight. They can serve as positive role models by exercising regularly and eating well-balanced healthy meals and snacks. Weight-conscious parents enjoy food and don't skip meals or talk about their weight obsessions with their children. According to the Weight-Control Information Network, children mimic behaviors and attitudes they see at home. They learn about healthy choices and how to make healthy decisions by watching their parents.
Benefits
Physical activity is a vital piece of a weight loss plan aimed at children. According to the Weight-Control Information Network, parents should encourage children to participate in sports or spend time playing outdoors every day. Children who are not athletically inclined should be provided with other physical outlets, such as bike riding, swimming or dancing. Kids require an average of one hour of physical activity a day to maintain a healthy weight.
Features
Until they reach the age of 3, children should receive about 30 to 35 percent of their daily calories from fat sources. That amount should be reduced to 25 to 30 percent until they turn 18, according to the American Heart Association. Trans fats from prepared foods and baked goods can be virtually eliminated and substituted with healthy monounsaturated fats found in nuts and fish. A healthy weight loss plan for kids includes fiber from whole grains, a variety of fruits and vegetables that do not include fruit juice, and low-fat dairy products, such as milk, cheese and yogurt.
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