Child obesity is one epidemic that has been in the limelight in recent times. This is a problem every parent should be aware of, whether you child is currently overweight or not. Why are so many kids overweight today? The reasons are basically similar to the reasons why a lot of adults have weight problems. Most weight problems comes down to how much calories you consume relative to how much calories your body burns through physical activities. As parents, you can do many things to help your kids develop healthy habits in this regard.
The type of drinks that your child consumes can have an effect on his or her health and weight. A lot of children today drink soda and other unhealthy beverages more than they do water. You will also see kids having one of those energy drinks loaded with sugar. Moreover, a lot of kids spend time at coffee shops and order high calorie drinks. You may think it’s healthy, but fruit juice can cause weight problems. You’re better off giving your child fresh fruit than canned or bottled juice because the latter is packed full of sugar and more often than not doesn’t contain real fruit. Nothing beats pure water as the best beverage to drink. Herbal teas are healthier, low-calorie alternatives to sodas and similar beverages. This doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be permitted to drink other beverages, but these should be limited.
The best way you can teach your child to be healthy is to set a good example yourself. If you or another family member is struggling with weight, it may be difficult for your child to lose weight. If this is the situation in your home, your child isn’t the only one who needs to lose weight. You need to make a family mission out of losing weight. This is an excellent way you can simultaneously spend time as a family and be healthy. If your child sees that you don’t care about your health, you can’t expect him or her to acquire healthy habits. They will be more inclined to follow your lead, so make sure you are paying attention to your own health.
Among the top causes of child obesity are passive activities like watching TV or playing games on the computer. More and more children tend to spend time sitting on a couch doing these things than out playing and burning calories. It’s challenging for parents to limit this, as so much of modern life revolves around electronic devices. Today, computers are very much needed in doing schoolwork. Still, there are a few things you can do to make sure your child doesn’t spend all of his or her time in front of a computer or television. For instance, if you’ve let your child eat in front of the TV or computer before, it’s time that you break the habit. Meals should be eaten on the dining table and preferably with the rest of the family. Make sure kids get outside and play and don’t spend all their leisure time playing video games. While it’s just about impossible to not use electronic devices these days, your child shouldn’t be spending all of his or her time on those devices.
A very serious problem, childhood obesity is something that parents should be concerned about. They need to know the causes of obesity in children, as well as what they can do to make sure their children don’t become obese. If you’ve got an overweight or obese child, talk to your child’s doctor and work with the doctor in designing a plan that will get your child to a healthy weight. You can try applying the suggestions in this article to get your child started on the road to reaching a healthy weight.