| Childhood obesity has become a major health | | | | activity, rather than be put on a weight-loss diet. It is |
| epidemic, with approximately 15% of children | | | | better that children begin to moderate unhealthy |
| considered to be obese the world over. The main | | | | choices, eat smaller portion sizes, and begin moderate |
| reason for the childhood obesity epidemic is a shift in | | | | exercise three to four days a week for 30-45 minutes, |
| eating habits, away from fresh food, whole grains and | | | | building on this over a longer period rather than staging |
| vegetables to convenience food high in fat, sugar and | | | | a crash course diet. |
| additives. Another major factor is a decline in activity | | | | The main parenting strategies include encouraging |
| for both children and adults, who now spend more time | | | | children to gradually change their (1) eating habits |
| in sedentary activities like watching TV and playing | | | | towards well-balanced, healthy, varieties of freshly |
| computer games that participating in exercise. In | | | | cooked and nutritious foods, with plenty of fresh fruit |
| addition, children who have obese or overweight | | | | and vegetables, and introducing more healthy recipes |
| parents have a high risk of becoming obese | | | | and nutritious lunch box ideas; (2) to become more |
| themselves as a result of poor family eating habits and | | | | active, and (3) to monitor their own progress and |
| unhealthy food choices. Parents today are spending | | | | weight loss - until they are able to achieve and |
| less time with their kids and giving less parental advice | | | | maintain a healthy weight. It is often easier to facilitate |
| about healthy food and activity choices. In the USA, | | | | a change in habits for children compared to adults. |
| UK and Australia 25% of children are considered | | | | Importantly, parents need to talk to their kids and |
| overweight or obese. The health risks associated with | | | | provide healthy choices at home, a range of activity |
| obesity in childhood are great including low self esteem, | | | | and exercise options, and healthy lunch box offerings |
| depression, hormonal imbalances, diabetes and joint | | | | for school. |
| problems. Worse still, the obese child who remains | | | | For parents needing support, internet Parent's Forums |
| overweight into adulthood has the potential to develop | | | | and Parenting Blogs offer support and community |
| more serious health risks later in their life, including | | | | exchange of ideas and tips to help address issues |
| arthritis, stroke and heart attack, high blood pressure, | | | | relating to childhood obesity. Other advice includes |
| diabetes, and bowel cancer. | | | | getting kids involved in shopping and meal preparation |
| Fast food marketing giants spending billions of dollars in | | | | to help teach them better nutrition and food choice, |
| advertising to target children and teens, selling them | | | | and assigning chores as another way to get kids up |
| cheap and high-calorie low nutrition value foods, such | | | | and active. Avoid stocking high-fat, high-sugar snacks |
| as crisps, soft drink, hamburgers and confectionery, | | | | in the home; provide fruit and healthy alternatives like |
| coupled with lack of control of parents, is the major | | | | fat free pretzels and popcorn. Dilute fruit juice and |
| cause of incorrect eating habits and childhood obesity. | | | | avoid soft drinks, water is always best. Try to make |
| Research shows that even drinking soft drink or soda | | | | good choices when going out for dinner, and avoid |
| regularly increases a child's chance of becoming | | | | using food as a reward/comfort. Instead, give kids the |
| overweight or obese by 60%. Compounding this, even | | | | attention they deserve by listening, providing |
| moderate exercise is no longer a regular daily activity | | | | encouraging words and hugs and treating the family |
| for children and teens. Most children do not play any | | | | out to the cinema or local bowling alley to celebrate |
| sport or even walk or cycle to school. Busy parents | | | | small successes. |
| also have less time than ever to supervise their | | | | Physical inactivity includes pastimes such as watching |
| children and take them out to play in local parks or on | | | | TV or playing computer games, should be reduced to |
| the street. A fear of stranger danger and abduction | | | | no more than two hours a day. Gradual increase in |
| has added to the value of allowing kids to watch TV | | | | physical activity, such as walking, bike riding, swimming, |
| or play computer games rather than be outside | | | | dancing and ball sports is suggested three to four |
| without parental supervision. | | | | times a week to begin. Importantly, remember the time |
| In relation to childhood obesity prevention, Doctors and | | | | you spend together as a family being active is also a |
| Nutritionists recommend that most overweight children | | | | great way to reconnect and bond and should be a fun |
| should be encouraged to lose weight through long | | | | experience for all… a new fitness plan can |
| lasting positive lifestyle changes in eating habits and | | | | mean a whole lot more than simply losing weight! |