| Childhood obesity has become a major concern in the | | | | the trick. |
| United States. It has been said that one out of four | | | | Weight loss for kids also involves helping them make |
| children of this generation will end up with Type II | | | | better food choices. So many kids today are |
| diabetes. Weight loss for children has become a huge | | | | accustomed to eating fast food at least two or three |
| topic amongst health professionals and parents alike. In | | | | times a week because of our schedules. |
| order to help these children, there are some important | | | | Unfortunately, these meals are loaded with fat and |
| aspects of children and weight loss to understand. | | | | calories. In addition, when children are used to eating |
| Primarily, these kids live sedentary lifestyles. Beyond | | | | these highly flavorful salty foods, their taste buds are |
| food choices, a major step in helping these kids with | | | | likely to reject a lean piece of grilled chicken or bland |
| weight loss is to get them away from the computers, | | | | vegetables. Taper back your fast food per week and |
| video games and television. Kids today have so many | | | | work towards limiting these "treats" to once or twice a |
| options for being sedentary and in front of a screen | | | | month. |
| that it is sometimes difficult to convince them | | | | Begin introducing more healthful meals for dinner. Truly, |
| otherwise. Its more challenging for parents today to | | | | "good for you" doesn't have to mean bland, boring |
| get their kids active because of all these options and | | | | dinners. We all grew up with meat being the main focal |
| also because it's no longer safe to send our children | | | | point of a meal, but a small piece of meat is really quite |
| out to play in the neighborhood. Increased traffic and | | | | sufficient. Now that calories have been saved by |
| traffic speed is an issue as well as the obvious fear of | | | | offering smaller amounts of meat, you can dress up |
| kidnappers. Our world just isn't safe enough anymore | | | | those veggies and make them more exciting and |
| to let our kids run about outside without a parent | | | | palatable. |
| watching. So what do we do to encourage our kids to | | | | Carbohydrates are not the enemy in weight loss that |
| be more active in an effort to achieve weight loss? | | | | some would have you believe; however, as |
| We have to be creative. Organized sports are a great | | | | Americans we certainly don't need to strive to get the |
| choice if parents can afford this, but even organized | | | | appropriate amount either. Offering a small amount of |
| sports only offer a few classes per week which is | | | | whole grain couscous with meals as opposed to a |
| just not enough activity to promote weight loss. | | | | heaping amount of macaroni and cheese is a great |
| Exercise needs to become part of the daily routine in | | | | alternative to the side dish. |
| a household. This exercise needs to be something the | | | | Above all, be patient. For the most part, your children |
| child enjoys and not seen as a task. Making a daily | | | | will not have a significant amount of weight loss. |
| family walk, perhaps with the family dog, is a great | | | | Rather, they will maintain their weight as they gain |
| idea to get your kids moving. Perhaps every other day, | | | | height and grow into their weight. |
| an evening at the neighborhood park playing tag will do | | | | |