6 Childhood Obesity Prevention Tips

The growing use of technology, poor diet, and lack of physical activity is making many more kids obese. Obese means to be significantly overweight. Childhood obesity is increasing and it needs to be stopped.

According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, approximately 12.5 million US children between the ages of 2-19 years old are obese. If obesity isn’t prevented in childhood, then they are more like to become obese adults.

You can partly blame it on genetics because it does play a small part in whether your child is big or small, but there are other factors to consider. Unfortunately, hormones can make a child’s weight fluctuate as well as certain medical conditions and medications. If your child doesn’t have a medical condition and is not on medication, the top reasons for being obese are poor nutrition and lack of exercise.

Good eating begins at home and it’s the responsibility of the parents to make sure they are providing and setting good nutritional habits.

Untreated childhood obesity will lead to many health issues such as:

*Diabetes
*Heart problems
*Hypertension
*High cholesterol
*Emotional – socialization, low self-esteem/confidence
*Sleep apnea
*Bone and joint problems

Furthermore, obesity increases the risks of developing different types of cancers.

6 Childhood Obesity Prevention Tips:

1. Be an active family. Enjoy a variety of activities that everyone can participate in. If your kids enjoy themselves then it will not feel like exercise to them.

2. Get your child involved in a sport. It will give them something to do and keep them out of trouble. It also builds good communication and socialization skills and keeps their bodies in good shape. This is a great way to instill physical activity into their daily lives. If they are a part of sporting activities from childhood, they will most likely stay active throughout their lives.

3. Omit or limit the junk food. It’s easier to do this when they are babies, but it’s a tad harder to completely take it away if they were used to eating it. Limiting their junk food addiction is crucial to preventing childhood obesity. Always read labels even on food that is deemed healthy. Less sugar and more healthy–yet tasty choices. Fruit juices are notorious for having high sugar content. On the other hand, search for ways to make unhealthy foods healthier.

4. Make more fruits and vegetables available and accessible. Have a variety to keep it interesting. Raw fruits and veggies re extremely healthy and also help prevent many illnesses–including many types of cancers!

5. Communicate. Talk to them and teach them about the importance of living a healthy life. Explain the reasons why it is better to take care of their bodies, than to just ignore that aspect of their beings.

6. Set the example. Remember to practice what you preach! Children will more likely do what we “do”–not only what we “say”.

As parents, we are our kids’ role models. Setting good dietary examples will give our kids a solid foundation to choose and eat healthy foods.

Train up a child in the way he should go [and in keeping with his individual gift or bent], and when he is old he will not depart from it. – Proverbs 22:6

Copyright © Lara Velez, Moms of Faith, All Rights Reserved