Weight Loss Tips for Kids

It is well known that obesity or being overweight is a growing epidemic among children, leading to increase in diabetes and other serious health effects. Many parents are being told to put their kids on a diet or risk that they will develop serious health problems. Body fatness changes over time as children grow, and boys and girls differ in the amount of fatness considered to be normal. 

It is also well known that by eating less and exercising more helps to lose weight. The problem is that it is hard to stay motivated to do these things. Some children are slow to do things in a timely manner because they are concerned about doing something exactly right or they might be too busy with their own interests. Although it is tempting to eat in front of the TV, try to eat together at the table at least 5 or 6 times per week. A study showed that kids who ate most of their meals with their family were less likely to be overweight.

Start the day off right with a good breakfast. A bowl of low-sugar cereal with low-fat milk, low-fat yogurt with a granola or breakfast bar, or an English muffin with peanut butter, rather than a doughnut or muffin. Being a good role model is also important, starting when your kids are young. This can help the whole family to be healthy. More exercise and being more active is another good way to stop gaining and losing weight. Instead of thinking about how to diet to decrease the number of calories, you could also think about how much exercise he needs to do to burn those calories. Eat less or exercise more or do some combination of both.