Useful Advice For Parents of Overweight Kids
Childhood obesity has become an extremely widespread and serious problem not only in the US, but in many other countries as well. It’s very sad to see honestly. Childhood obesity is a serious issue because children who are overweight and obese are far more likely to develop a variety of serious diseases. Parents with overweight children CAN do something to help their children, though. Here are some helpful recommendations for keeping your kids active and healthy.
If your child is not very active, try to find an activity that he or she will enjoy. While sports can be a great way for kids to socialize and get exercise, not all kids are a good match for the soccer, basketball or football team. But their are always plenty of other things they can do, from rock climbing to archery to boxing, the possibilities are almost limitless!
Children who are overweight tend to lack the coordination or athleticism required by traditional sports like basketball or soccer. This doesn’t mean, however, that there aren’t activities that would be appropriate for them. It’s a good idea to take a look at the after-school activities your child’s school offers or see if there are any activities offered locally. Swimming clubs may be good for your child. You can also sign up your child in a martial arts class. When your child does express any kind of interest in a pursuit that involves physical activity, be sure to encourage it. If you child is to get to a healthy weight, you need to encourage him or her to eat healthy, low-calorie snacks. You want to break your child’s habit of snacking on junk food and replace it with healthier alternatives. There are many healthier alternatives, such as fruit, nuts, yogurt, carrots and celery. Compared to junk food, these alternatives won’t be as tempting to your child, but it’s important that you keep working on your child and help him or her eat better. Try packing some trail mix with your child’s lunch instead of a candy bar. Remember that even if they’re upset now, it’s for the best.
Milk has long been considered a staple of a healthy diet, especially for kids. Studies are consistently showing, however, that milk isn’t all that healthy. If you have an overweight child, be careful about his or her consumption of milk and milk-based products such as cheese and ice cream. A large majority of people in the world are lactose intolerant, just for the mere fact that humans weren’t made to take in or process any milk other than that of humans.
When children are encouraged to drink a lot of milk when they are still young, they’re more likely to keep with the habit even if it’s not the healthiest thing for them. If they drink chocolate milk, this contains even more calories. A low-calorie option is low-fat yogurt, which is an excellent calcium and protein source. You don’t have to remove milk from children’s diets completely, but you should make sure they aren’t getting more than they need.
Just because your child is overweight doesn’t mean he or she is doomed to being unhealthy forever from that point on. We’ve shared a few strategies you can use to help your child. However, it’s best if you still talk with your child’s doctor, especially if you’re not completely certain that your child is overweight or if the weight gain is simply a normal part of your child’s development. Keep in mind that children who are overweight or obese didn’t become like that in just a blink of an eye. Thus, getting them back to a healthy weight isn’t going to happen quickly either. If you need an extra hand with weight loss Cary NC, we know just the people for you. They’ll make sure, most importantly, that everything is done healthily.