Childhood obesity is widespread in the United States. As of 2010, one in three American children is obese, according to the KidsHealth website. Don't wait until your doctor tells you that your child is overweight or obese. Instead, incorporate activities into your child's routine that will keep her at a healthy weight before obesity becomes a problem.
Stay Active
Although it might be easier to prop your child in front of the television when he's bored, a sedentary lifestyle is one cause of obesity. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, children and teens should be physically active for at least one hour per day.
Rather than expecting your child to go out and play on his own, lead by example. Take your child outside to play tennis or shoot some hoops on the basketball court; make playing outside a daily routine. Not only will your child burn excess calories and energy, but you'll burn a few calories, too.
Eat Nutritious Foods
Your children may look to the refrigerator to relieve stress and get rewards, particularly if you have given your child a cookie or other sugary treat in exchange for a job well done, notes KidsHealth. Stock the refrigerator instead with tasty foods that help fuel the body. Don't mix up your child's food signals by rewarding her with food. If you'd like to give your child a reward, present her with an extra story at bedtime or a sticker instead.
Eat meals together as a family as often as possible. Rather than depriving your child of all of her favorite foods, establish certain foods, like salty snacks and desserts, as foods to eat only sometimes, and only in moderation. Otherwise, your child may find a way to binge on these foods at school or elsewhere.
Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle at School
Because you can't follow your child to school, it may be challenging to implement a healthy diet and exercise program that your child can stick to. Let your child walk to school instead of driving him or taking the bus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend. With your assistance, let your child pack his own lunch full of nutritious foods he enjoys. He will be more likely to eat a meal he has packed himself.
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