Healthy Weight Loss

The news has been laden with the fact that obesity in children is reaching overwhelming percentages. For some children, however, that adorable baby fat may turn into a health concern. Be sure that you offer these good foods with each meal so that it's a normal part of eating. Don't treat your children differently based on their weight. No matter how thin you became as an adult, the emotional scars from being an overweight child stayed with you forever.

So however sensitively worded the letter is, when it communicates that a child is overweight, this news will always trigger an impassioned and defensive reaction to the stigma implied. Any changes you make to your child's diet and lifestyle are much more likely to be accepted if the changes are small and involve the whole family.

But if you choose to incorpoprate more nutritious foods DO NOT make it ONLY for the child you are concerned about. This can help determine if your child's weight is in an unhealthy range. Thin or heavy, children need to learn how to eat right. Obesity puts kids at risk for medical problems that can affect their health now and in the future.

According to the guidelines of the World Health Organization Fitness coach for teens Longwood (WHO), children ages 1 to 4 years old should be engaged in various kinds of physical activity for at least 180 minutes every day, including moderate- to vigorous-intensity activities. If they think there's an issue with your child's weight, they'll ask about their diet and how active they are.

Offer rewards other than food or drinks when encouraging your child to practice healthy habits. To better the health of our country, we need to start with improving our own health, the health of our families, and ultimately, the health of adult generations to come: our children.