Childhood obesity is a major public health problem. According to the U. S. Centers for Disease Control, nearly nine million children in the United States are overweight or obese. While some may see obesity as a problem of being oversized, the impact goes beyond appearance. Children who are overweight or obese are more likely than non-obese children to develop serious diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease and other potentially fatal diseases. Unfortunately, too many children are suffering fatal heart attacks as a result of eating too much of the wrong foods and not getting enough exercise.
What can you do to prevent your child from gaining too much weight and developing diabetes, heart disease or other chronic ailment?
Here are 5 simple things that you can do starting right now.
- Shop for nutritious foods and keep them in plain view. When your child needs a snack, he can easily reach for something nutritious instead of sweets or foods made with a lot of fat or salt. Fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grain bread, peanut butter, cheese, milk and yogurt make smart choices.
- Encourage your child to drink water often. Avoid stocking your home with sodas and other sweetened drinks.
- Teach your child how to eat the right portions for his age. Eat meals together as a family and use these occasions as teachable moments.
- Do not fuss with your child at the table or punish him if he does not eat all of his food or refuses to eat certain foods. Allow him time to get used to new foods.
- Encourage your child to sit less and move more. Keep in mind that everyone can benefit from regular exercise, so get the whole family involved.