Child Obesity: how to help your child lose weight

Child obesity is sweeping across the world. The obesity rate among children under 18 years is very high in some countries exceeding even the number of cases of obesity installed in adulthood. Moreover, lately doctors begun to diagnose children with diseases that are mainly found in adults – many of these diseases are associated with poor physical condition (hypertension is one example). It is not just the physic that is affected by these issues – but also the psyche of the children, because it is known that obesity can cause depression, can decrease confidence and cause poor school results, through the impact it has on the personal image.

There are many things that lead to these problems. Among them is a sedentary lifestyle, lack of exercise and unhealthy eating. Fast-food is extremely common among young people today. The responsibility of changing these habits falls in the hands of the parents and, in general, of adult relatives. We are aware that a careful and constant supervision of children is not always possible. Here are some tips that can help you, and your child lose weight.

Take the size of the meal portions into account

First, try to provide healthy food to the children (from all groups), so they will have a balanced nutritional regime. But the secret lies in serving appropriate portions, neither too large nor too small. If they are too large, the child will not be able to eat everything and either you will force him (through an already-established custom, the child "must" eat everything from the plate) or he will force himself, because he knows that it is not nice to leave food in the plate. You have to help your child form good eating habits if you want him to be healthy and avoid child obesity.

If the portions are too small, he will be tempted to refill his plate, to refill, to refill … some moms even give them another portion to the kid, which is a sign his appreciation of food. However, a moderate portion is enough – you do not want his stomach to enlarge and have weight problems in the future. Do not encourage children to eat large amounts of food at a single meal, only because you are glad he liked and finally chose something healthy to eat.

If he gets used to it, the tendency to over-supply will continue later, and this will be harmful when he will go with his friends to the fast food and will only ask for ‘extra-large " portions.

Help your child develop healthy eating habits

If the child learns to eat nutritious and healthy food, he will continue to perpetuate these habits. It is good to familiarize him to eating 5 or 6 smaller portions throughout the day, rather than rarely less meals and more food. This way you will be sure he will not abuse food when he goes out with his friends.

Encourage physical exercise

Sport can be practiced successfully even at very young ages. There is no need to turn your child into a performance athlete, but you have to teach him the importance of exercise for the body. At very young ages, games of all sorts exercise running and walking skills, these games are the most useful. Later, team games, sports competitions of all kinds will make him improve his physical performance.

Anyway, you should not compel your child to do sports; more so, you should not choose a sport for him and insist that he must follow it, despite his repeated refusals. All you have to do is teach your child that a healthy lifestyle involves physical activity, and you can even show this to him as bordering on the green grass in weekends or during holidays tours. When he grows up, he will choose, whether it is football, gymnastics, tennis or any other sport.

Always support the child and give him positive motivation

Children are sometimes reluctant when it comes to sports. To some it may seem like a waist of time, they do not fit any sport or simply can not do what is requested. In such cases, keep your positive attitude and give them your support. Try to make all these activities pleasant and entertaining; do not focus on the desire to win a race at all costs or the need to achieve amazing results. The little one must perceive sport as an activity that brings him joy, and not as one that causes stress.

Reward appropriate behavior

It is very important that you reward your children when they play sports or when they eat healthy food. Thus, you will encourage them to keep their behavior in the future, knowing that you like it but it also brings them benefits. Participate with the children in sports activities. The benefits of this advice are very clear. You gain health and physical shape, and the children enjoyed a fun partner. At the same time, spending some pleasant moments together will make the bond with each other even stronger – so do not hesitate to plan the next fresh air party right now!

Practice what you preach

Turn yourself into a model for the young generation. The young accumulate very much and have the tendency to imitate those in the family that are the closest to them. If they will see that their parents are healthy, happy and energetic, they will definitely want to be the same! Moreover, your credibility will grow in front of your children, but your lifestyle will not suffer! On the contrary, you will notice that you feel much better and that you have an enviable physical shape!

If you want to helap you child avoid obesity you should also read: Child Obesity: how to help your overweight kids get fit