Government statistics show that children, like adults, are overweight, or even obese, and the problem is growing (pun intended). It is critical to the child's lifelong health and self-esteem to began a sensible approach to eating as soon as possible.
There are a variety of factors which come into play when considering causes of excess weight. For many children, a large part of the problem is sugar-sweetened beverages. Some of our kids are getting one-fourth or more of their recommended daily calories from soda! It is essential to eliminate, or at least reduce, these beverages from your child's daily life, starting today.
For other children, the primary problem is excessive portion sizes. The kids (and adults) have been accustomed to eating two or even three times the amount of food in one sitting that is advisable for health and weight control. Your child's physician can specifically advise you, but for most kids it is safe to cut their food intake at least by one-third.
Our children have become accustomed to multi-tasking and this includes how and when they eat. They scarf down their meals while working on the computer or texting their friends. They snack while playing video games. They "drink sugar" from mega-sized containers while they watch movies. Help your child (and yourself) by eliminating "mindless eating". When you eat, eat and nothing else!
A few of our children battle a compulsive habit called "binge eating" in which they feel a powerful internal desire to overeat. They actually crave the feeling of excessive fullness so they eat rapidly and ravenously until they are "ready to burst". These children have some awareness of the problem because it is often accompanied by feelings of guilt and a need to eat "in secret".
Once this pattern has begun, it is often fueled by any kind of emotional stress. This problem can, and should, be dealt with as soon as possible. It will require evaluation and intervention by your child's physician. Your kid's health and self-esteem are at stake.
Whatever the underlying cause for your child's excess weight, lifestyle changes will be needed. He or she most likely wants very much to lose weight but they don't have the foggiest clue how to begin. This is where you come in.
They need your help. It is a fair guess that the whole family could use some lifestyle changes insofar as eating habits are concerned. Whether overweight or not, we have all gotten into patterns of eating that are making us sick.
Start today with some relatively easy steps:
• eliminate sugar-sweetened beverages
• reduce portion sizes
• no second helpings
• fill the plate with half fruits and vegetables, one-fourth grains, one-fourth protein
• provide low or fat-free milk
• keep healthful snacks (fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, reduced fat cheese) readily available for "munchies"
• encourage family meals and walks together
• seek help from your doctor or a registered dietitian (available through the local hospital) if needed.
It's never too late (or too early) to begin habits of healthful eating that will last a lifetime.
Your child's excess weight depends on You. by Sue Bristol, R.N.
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