Helping an overweight child
Sep 27 '01
The Bottom Line Encourage the entire family to eat healthy foods and to be physically active.
The subject of putting your child on a diet can be a touchy issue. Many people do not want to admit that their child is obese, or they fear that putting them on a diet will hurt the child's self esteem. With the proper family support, it is possible for your child to maintain a healthy weight.
How do I know if my child should be put on a diet?
This is an issue that should be discussed with your pediatrition. However I will offer these rough guidelines:
For children under 3: weight loss is not usually recommended. Instead, parents are encouraged to maintain the childs current weight, or gain weight at a slower rate. This allows the child to "grow into" their weight.
For older children: if your child's BMI is above the 95th percentile for their age, they are considered overweight. Lifestyle should also be taken in to consideration. A child whose large size interferes with normal physical activity is considered overweight.
This website will calculate your child's BMI: www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/bmi/calc-bmi.htm
Percentile BMI charts can be found at:
Girls-www.cdc.gov/nchs/about/major/nhanes/growthcharts/set1clinical/CJ41L024.pdf
Boys-www.cdc.gov/nchs/about/major/nhanes/growthcharts/set1clinical/CJ41L023.pdf
Issues for overweight children
It is becoming increasingly obvious that obesity carries health risks even in children. Rates of depression are higher than in normal weight children. Overweight children are likely to become overweight adults, in which they will be subject to the adult risks.
Overweight children also show risk factors for coronary artery disease. Of children and teens who fall in the 95th percentile for their BMI, 60% have one risk factor for heart disease. An additional 20% have two or more risk factors.
Children who are overweight are often teased and may suffer from low self esteem.
Be supportive
Managing your child's weight should be a family effort. Do not single the child out by giving them different foods than the rest of the family, denying them treats, or pushing them to exercise alone. This will only alienate them and hurt their feelings. Instead, use the opportunity to help the entire family develop healthier habits.
In fact, if it is possible I suggest approaching the issue by announcing that the whole family needs better habits, instead of focusing specifically on the overweight child.
Starting your child on a healthy diet
Give them better food, not less food
Empty your cupboards of junk foods. Keep healthier snacks like fruit, frozen juice bars, and lowfat yogurt on hand.
Include vegetables and lean meats in meals, and try to use less fat when you prepare meals. Serve meals restaurant-style: give your family soup or salad (with low-cal dressing) before the main dish. This will help fill them up and reduce any tendencies to overeat.
Watch what your children drink. Do you know that if you drink one soft drink every day for a year, you drink enough calories to gain ten pounds? Try to switch to skim milk, tea, water or diet sodas. Check the label on fruit drinks - some are healthy, but others contain as many calories (and as few vitamins) as soft drinks.
Encouraging an active lifestyle
Children normally engage in a lot of activity, so it is often easier to get a child up and moving than it would be with an adult.
Encourage them to play with friends who are naturally very active. Even if your child ignores your attempts to help them exercise, what child can resist running when another kid says "race ya" or "last one to the car is a rotten egg"?
See if your child is interested in a sports program. Even if your child does not want to do competitive team sports, there are still options. Watch what your children imitate from TV and movies. Maybe they enjoy dancing, imitate wrestlers, or pretend to perform karate kicks after they see it on TV. Karate (or other self-defense type classes) may be more appealing than you would expect, especially for children who are teased a lot or are afraid of other children at school.
Do activities together as a family. Go to the beach in the summer, or sledding in the winter. Take bike rides together, or toss the ball in the backyard with your child.
If you pay attention, you may find many small opportunites where you discourage exercise. For example, if your child is running down the hall would you say "Stop running in the house" instead of "Take it outside"?
Choose gifts for you child carefully. Buy toys that encourage activity, and clothes and shoes that will be comfortable to move around in. If you must buy video games, buy only one at a time so they get bored with it more quickly.
TV and Video Games
You've heard it before but I'll repeat it anyway: limit the amount of time your child can watch TV and video games. Studies have shown that people who watch the most TV are also the least active.
Don't Be Too Obsessive
While it is important to help your child maintain a healthy weight, it is equally important to maintain a healthy attitude. If you are too fatalistic about every failure, your child will be too. There are times when the best intentions backfire. A child may become resistant to any attempts to help them lose weight; or they could go to the other extreme and be at risk for an eating disorder.
So focus on health, not the number on the scale. Allow occasional treats, and let the diet slide on special occasions like birthday parties. And most importantly, lead by example.
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
Kris.
|
 - Top 500 |
|
Location: Austin, TX
Reviews written: 27
Trusted by: 49 members
|
|
|
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.