Parents Can Help Prevent Childhood Obesity

Childhood obesity can cause many physical and mental health problems. It impacts children both in their developmental years and sets them up for health problems later in life. Heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and joint problems are among the effects of being overweight or obese.

Parents of obese children, or parents who worry their child may become obese, may feel overwhelmed by this information, but there are things that parents can do to help prevent childhood obesity. The Institute of Medicine of the National Academies has prepared a fact sheet that offers suggestions for parents at different developmental stages.

While there is some debate surrounding whether breastfeeding offers infants protection against becoming obese, research does suggest that it helps. Research also suggests that early introduction of sweetened beverages or high fat foods to infants may contribute to obesity, so breastfeeding is best.

Giving children a variety of different foods and numerous opportunities to try new foods means these foods are more likely to become part of their diet. Parents can encourage health eating habits by offering foods again and again with no coercion.

Teach your children to eat healthy portions of food and to stop eating when they feel full. Young children seem more in tune with internal fullness clues than do those over age 5, who will eat everything they are presented instead of responding to their internal satiety cues.

Once children are off to school and are eating away from home, their food choices may not always be the best ones. Parents cannot be there all the time, but they can promote healthy eating at home and encourage sit-down, family meal times.

Studies show that the more of these family meals an older child has, the more likely he is to consume fruits and vegetables, calcium-rich foods, and grains.

Support your child’s physical interests and offer opportunities for exercise. This could mean taking walks as a family, going to the playground, supporting organized sports, or simply encouraging free play in the backyard. Whatever it is, demonstrate to your child the value of such exercise.

Turn off the television. That’s easier said than done, but studies link obesity to television and other recreational screen time usage. Limit screen time to less than 2 hours a day to help curb obesity.

Parents can be very effective role models, so be sure to demonstrate the value of eating well and exercising. Choose breastfeeding, followed by a healthy variety of foods as children start eating solids. Discuss weight and body mass index with your child’s pediatrician to be sure he is on the right track for a healthy height/weight proportion.

If you are concerned that your child is overweight or obese, your pediatrician’s office is the place to start gathering information and making a plan to help your child be healthy.