Childhood obesity affects millions of American children. According to the "New England Journal of Medicine," approximately 80 percent of overweight and obese children between the ages 10 and 14 will maintain their overweight or obese status into adulthood. Due to the chronic nature of this condition and health risks associated with obesity, parents may seek help to integrate more healthful behaviors into their child's daily life. As a result, parents play a key role in helping their child lose weight and developing a healthy lifestyle.
A Family Effort
According to researchers at the Mayo Clinic, the most effective interventions for childhood weight loss are family-based interventions. Instead of lifestyle changes focusing solely on the overweight or obese child, the entire family needs to participate in making healthy lifestyle choices. Parents act as the gatekeepers of what their children eat and drink. Additionally, children imitate both the good and bad lifestyle choices of their parents. A sit-down family meal creates the perfect opportunity for parents to model healthy eating behaviors.
Accessibility of Fruits and Vegetables
Fruit and vegetable consumption among children increases when fruits and vegetables are readily available, according to "International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity." In order to combat obesity, parents should supply the home with ready-to-eat fruit and vegetable snacks. The availability and accessibility of fruits and vegetables can lead to more healthful food preferences in the future.
Daily Activity
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends 60 minutes of daily physical activity to help reverse childhood obesity. Parents can begin by implementing physical activity into their daily routine to set a healthy example for their child. Small lifestyle changes, such as parking farther away from the market door and walking, contribute to a healthier body over time.
Boredom
Boredom often plays a role in excessive caloric intake and sedentary lifestyle. A child may eat or watch television out of boredom. Media use displaces physical activity time, increases energy consumption and persuades children to make unhealthful food choices via advertisements. To combat boredom, parents can limit tv and media use, enroll children in team sports, encourage outdoor family time and support participation in volunteer activities.
Reinforce Healthy Behaviors
Positively reinforcing healthy behaviors motivates a child to repeat healthy choices. When you observe your child eating healthily or participating in physical activity, you can reward children through attention and praise. This parenting technique will increase your child's motivation to continue these healthy behaviors. However, researchers at the Mayo Clinic warn parents against rewarding or punishing children with food, as this may aid in developing an unhealthy relationship with food or with the parent.
References
- "New England Journal of Medicine"; Predicting Obesity in Young Adulthood from Childhood and Parental Obesity; Robert Whitacker, et al.; September 1997
- Mayoclinic.com: Childhood Obesity - Make Weight Loss a Family Affair
- "International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity"; Changes in Accessibility and Preferences Predict Children's Future Fruit and Vegetable Intake; Elling Bere, et al.; October 2005
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Tips for Parents -- Ideas to Help Children Maintain a Healthy Weight
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Overweight and Obesity
- Mayoclinic.com: Childhood Obesity -- Prevention
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