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Childhood Obesity Part 3 – should I ask my child to go on a Nutrition & Eating habits?

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23 July 2012

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1 minute read

Childhood Obesity Part 3 – should I ask my child to go on a Nutrition & Eating habits?

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Maintaining a healthy weight

Expert advice is that most children who are overweight should not be encouraged to actually lose weight. Instead they are encouraged to maintain their weight, so they gradually “grow into it” as they get taller. Children should never be put on a weight-loss diet without medical advice as this can affect their growth. Unregulated dieting – particularly in teenage girls – is thought to lead to the development of eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia. No drug treatment has been proven effective in the treatment of weight problems in children. The good news is that all the evidence shows that it is much easier to change a child’s eating and exercise habits than it is to alter an adult’s.

Physical activity

Doctors recommend a gradual increase in physical activity, such as brisk walking, to at least an hour a day. Encourage walking to places such as school and the shops, rather than always jumping in the car. Suggest going to the park for a kick around with a football, or a game of rounders, cricket or frisbee. Visit a local leisure centre to investigate sports and team activities to get involved in. Make exercise into a treat by taking special trips to an adventure play park or an ice skating rink, for example. Involve the whole family in bike rides, swimming and in-line skating. When it is safe to do so, teach your child to ride a bike.

Reducing physical inactivity

“Physical inactivity” includes pastimes such as watching TV or playing computer games. These should be reduced to no more than two hours a day or an average of 14 hours a week. Encourage children to be selective about what they watch, concentrate only on the programs they really enjoy.

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23 July 2012

•

1 minute read

Childhood Obesity Part 3 – should I ask my child to go on a Nutrition & Eating habits?

By

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