How to Prevent Obesity in Children
By admin on Mar 17, 2008 in Child Obesity
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, recent childhood obesity statistics estimate 16 percent of children (over 9 million boys and girls) are overweight or obese - a number that has tripled in recent years. An additional 15 percent (over 8 million school-age children) are at risk of becoming overweight. How can you prevent this from happening to your child?
Experts agree that physical activity is the main way to prevent childhood obesity. The popularity of sedentary activities such as video games, the Internet, and television means it is even more necessary to teach children the importance of being active.
Children need the right tools to develop and maintain an active lifestyle. As a parent, use the following simple tips to help increase your childs activity level and help them maintain a healthy weight in the future:
*Take a break. Once every hour, when they’re on the computer or in front of the television, have your child take a 10-minute break and exercise. Encourage them get on their feet and do something they enjoy.
*Mix it up. Suggest a new activity every day of the week. Try bike riding on Monday, jump roping on Tuesday, swimming on Wednesday, etc.
*Join a team. Encourage your child to join a sports team. This will establish a regular exercise routine as well as build teamwork skills.
*Keep an activity log. Make it easy and fun for children to track their progress and see changes by encouraging them to keep an activity log.
*Be their role model. Select activities that involve your family, such as bike riding, walking, or visiting a local park.
Incorporating activity into children’s lives has extra benefits as well. Children will enjoy an increased amount of self-esteem, energy, and strong muscles and bones.
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