17% of children in the United States are obese. That’s more than twelve million children. This doesn’t even count those who are overweight but not the obese mark. These children need our help, but how can we help them?
Doctor: This should be the first step, even before making a diet plan. Some medical conditions may be a factor in a child’s weight problem. Being obese can cause some medical conditions. These should be considered as the first step in the program.
nutritionist: Modifying a child’s diet is a little more complicated than that of an adult. Children are still growing, so nutrition is important. A nutritionist can help you understand caloric needs, the foods that provide the most nutrients per calorie, and whether or not a vitamin or mineral supplement would be important.
The nutritionist can also help you find recipes and teach you how to plan menus. A diet doesn’t necessarily mean a child is hungry, but it will mean a change in what she eats. This will affect the whole family.
help the child: Helping children to help themselves is an important key to a successful diet plan. Explain what is happening and what changes will be made. Take the child to the supermarket and show him things that can replace high-calorie snacks.
Set reasonable goals and reward the child for meeting them. Naturally, food shouldn’t be a reward, but perhaps a trip to the park to play ball would be nice. Choosing an active reward also benefits by encouraging exercise.
family affair: Making this a team effort is essential. This is partly due to fairness. A child who eats a carrot for a snack and watches a skinny brother wolf down French fries is not going to do well. Instead, he chooses snacks for everyone that fit into the diet plan.
There is another reason why I suggest this. It is important to set a good example for all of your children. You are teaching them what they should eat for the rest of their lives.
The problem with diets is that they eventually come to an end. Then the dieter goes back to the old habits and the process repeats itself. What parents should teach is a lifestyle change that includes healthy food and exercise. If everyone does it, no one feels left out.
