How To Help Your Children And Family Stay Healthy

How To Help Your Children And Family Stay Healthy

What Can I Do To Help My Child Stay At A Healthy Weight?

Help your child stay at a healthy weight by balancing what your child eats with physical activity. Two of the best ways to prevent your child from becoming overweight or obese are to:

  • Help your child eat healthier foods
  • Be more physically active as a family

“The healthy habits your child learns now can last a lifetime”

You are a role model. Parents are often the most important role models for children. When you choose to eat right and be physically active, your child will be more likely to make those choices, too. Eating healthy and getting active as a family will also help you spend more quality time together.

Why Do I Need To Worry About My Child’s Weight?

Being overweight or obese as a child can lead to serious problems, like: 

  • Heart disease
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Asthma
  • Sleep problems
  • Low self-esteem
  • Getting bullied

Being overweight as a child increases the risk of being overweight or obese as an adolescent and young adult. In other words, many kids don’t “grow out of” being overweight.

Today, most adults – and about 1 in 3 children – are overweight or obese.

How Do I Know If My Child Is At A Healthy Weight?

Find out your child’s body mass index (BMI) is the best way to learn if he or she is at a healthy weight. Children grow at different rates, so it’s not always easy to tell if your child is at a healthy weight. Healthy weight is also defined differently for children and teens than it is for adults. Ask your child’s doctor or nurse whether your child is at a healthy weight. You can also use this BMI calculator for children and teens if you know your child’s height and weight.

What If My Child Is Overweight Or Obese?

Successful weight management programs for kids include counselling and education about eating a healthy diet and being physically active. Parents have an important role to play in these programs, too. Talk to your child’s doctor or nurse for more information.

Take Action! Help your child make healthy choices and learn healthy habits.

Ask The Doctor To Screen Your Child For Obesity.

Your child’s doctor or nurse can calculate your child’s BMI (body mass index) and say if your child is at a healthy weight. If your child is overweight or obese, ask the doctor or nurse to help you find a weight-loss program for your child. Look for a weight-loss program that includes counselling to help kids: 

  • Make healthy choices about food
  • Get more physical activity

Make sure your child gets at least 60 minutes (1 hour) of physical activity every day. It doesn’t have to be 60 minutes all at once – it can be shorter activities that add up to 1 hour a day. Fun activities that children do on their own are best. For example, playing tag is a great way for kids to get moving.

Be sure your child is doing different types of activity, including:

  • Aerobic activities, like Bootcamp , running, skipping, or dancing
  • Muscle-strengthening activities, like climbing playground equipment or trees
  • Bone-strengthening activities, like jumping rope or playing basketball

Make Getting Active A Family Project.

  • Let children choose family activities.
  • Try walking the dog or biking to the library together.
  • Find a park to explore near your home.
  • Plan your next outdoor family activity.
  • Limit screen time. Keep inactive (sitting down) screen time to 2 hours or less a day for kids age 2 and older. Screen time is time spent using computers or smart phones, watching TV, or playing video games.
  • Set clear rules about when and for how long your child can use the computer or smart phone, watch TV, and play video games.
  • Keep the TV out of your child’s room.
  • Shop, cook, and plan for healthy meals. Buy and serve more vegetables, fruits, and whole grain foods. Here are some tips and ideas:
  • Let your child pick out healthy foods to try.
  • Give children age 2 and older water or fat-free or low-fat milk instead of soda or juice. Children under age 2 can drink whole milk.

Eat Healthy.

You can be a role model for your child by eating healthy. Plus, a healthy diet can help protect you from heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and some types of cancer.

  • Start the day with a good breakfast. Skipping breakfast can make kids hungry and tired, and it may lead them to snack on junk food later in the day. Give your kids whole-grain cereal with fat-free or low-fat milk and fruit instead of sugary cereal.
  • Make healthy snacks as they give kids important nutrients and help control hunger between meals.
  • Sit at the table and eat together as a family. When families eat together, children eat more vegetables and fruits and less junk food. Plan healthy, affordable meals and enjoy them as a family. Let children help pick out healthy foods, prepare meals, and set the table.
  • Make sure your child gets enough sleep. If kids don’t get enough sleep, they are at higher risk of being overweight or obese.

Reference

http://www.healthfinder.gov/

 

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