Your Child's Weight:
Help Your Child with Successful Weight Management
A child with weight problems faces serious medical, emotional,
and social consequences. Extra pounds can lead to high blood pressure,
diabetes, heart disease, and orthopedic and mobility problems, not
to mention low self-esteem and social problems.
Help your child with the challenge of weight control by being
a positive role model.
All kids and families handle this difficult situation differently:
some make it the focus of family life; others pretend it doesn't
exist. But there are two basic truths about all families: 1) parents
are constantly influencing their child's relationship with food,
activity, and themselves, and 2) weight control is a family problem
that requires a family solution. You can help your child with the
challenge of weight control by being a positive role model with
your attitudes, your eating habits, and your physical activity behaviors.
Causes of Overweight
Simply speaking, overweight occurs when more calories are coming
in than are being spent. But it's really not that easy. Although
physical activity and food choices are the most critical factors
in weight gain and loss, other factors, including genetics and family
and social influences, play a role. Your doctor can help you evaluate
your child's weight using tools such as body mass index (BMI) and
growth charts, and considering age, sex, maturity level, ethnicity,
and physical activity. Remember that no one has a specific ideal
weight; we all have a range of acceptable weight.
Components of Weight Management
Weight management programs for all but the most severely overweight
children and adolescents should not focus on weight loss. Instead,
the goal is to keep weight stable while the child gets taller and
more muscular over time. As with adult programs, the cornerstones
are physical activity and a healthy diet. However, a child has a
much better chance for success when her family also adopts healthy
behaviors.
Target the Whole Family
With family participation, the overweight child is not singled
out, and can learn and practice new behaviors with positive examples
from the most important people in his life. In addition to teaching
kids about healthy choices, you must also be a role model, support
system, and participant. When all family members join in positive
activities, you'll not only help your overweight child, you'll also
become a healthier and closer family.
Be Physically Active
Moving your body is a critical element in weight management. Movement
and exertion help everyone feel healthier, manage weight, control
stress, and increase strength, coordination, and self-esteem. Researchers
jokingly point out that the most important physical activity a child
can do is turning off the television set or walk away from computer
games. Hours of tag, stick ball, and hopscotch have been replaced
by sedentary activities such as television watching and computer
games. Experts recommend that most children get at least 60 minutes
of moderate physical activity daily. And if you're looking to spend
"quality" time with kids when you're not distracted or
rushed, physical activity is a great opportunity.
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