10 Tips for Parents Concerned With Childhood Obesity

Today, overweight problem in children, have become a big concern and worry for the parents. Obesity increases the risk of various diseases like heart diseases, cholesterol, blood pressure, cancer, diabetes and even early deaths. Given below are a few tips for parents who are worried about childhood obesity.

1. Avoid fatty foods and give calcium:

Give your children non fatty foods, and low fat dairy products, like low fat milk. Also reduce foods that contain sugar. Increase in calcium intake helps in strengthening the bones and helps to prevent fractures and osteoporosis. The recommended amount of calcium for children between the age group 4 to 8 years is 800 mg and between 9 to 18 years is 1800 mg. If the child does not enough calcium from his food, you can give him calcium supplements.

2. Inculcate healthy eating habits:

Start inculcating healthy eating habits in children when they are small, so that they will stick to it when they go out of doors. Today TV commercials are full of sweet treats for children and even a few coins in their pockets, will tempt the children to buy such treats.

3. Avoid unhealthy foods yourself:

Another important thing you can do is stop eating unhealthy foods yourself. You can not deprive your children of such foods and then eat them in front of your children. Children’s role models are their parents, so you should illustrate a healthy lifestyle for them to follow.

4. Limited portion servings:

Avoid serving food from the dishes on the dinning table when you are having your meals. It is better to serve the food on everyone’s plate right from the kitchen itself. Keep the left over away. When it is kept in front of the children, naturally they might have a tendency to go for a second helping, especially if it’s tasty and tempting.

5. Let the children choose healthy foods they like:

Explain to your children about the dangers of obesity. Take them along when you go to the grocer. They might like some fruits or vegetables by its look and decide to try them. In this way you can prompt them to try different foods.

6. Avoid giving sugary juices and fatty cheese:

Children love some foods like juices or cheese. Well, no problem! Let them have it. Just ensure that you give them low sugar juices or low fat cheese.

7. Give soup or yoghurt before meals:

Another way you can prevent your children from over eating, is to serve them a bowl of vegetable soup before meals. This will reduce their appetite, making them eat less and it is also very healthy. You can make them have yoghurt, which is low calorie. To make it tastier, add some fruit pieces to it. Or make a pizza, topped with lots of vegetables and low fat cheese. These are filling and healthy.

8. Don’t let them eat in front of the TV or computer:

Stop your children’s habit of eating food in front of the TV or computer. You child will not have any control over the portion of food.

9. Make gradual change in their diet:

Instead of stopping sweets all of a sudden, try to make gradual changes in their diet. Start with an apple or orange twice a week, instead of cookies or candy bar, after school.

10. Take the advice of a pediatrician:

Before you change your child’s diet, consult pediatricians, who can advice you about their meal plans. You can also enquire about weight loss programs for children.

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