Help Your Child Stay at a Healthy Weight
Posted on December 20, 2012
Americans are getting heavier. Today, most adults are overweight or obese. Children are becoming heavier, too. Children who are overweight or obese have a higher risk for:
- 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. Many kids don’t grow out of being overweight.
Two of the best ways to prevent your child from being overweight or obese are to eat healthier foods and to get more active as a family. Parents are often the most important role models for children. When you eat right and are physically active, your children will be more likely to make these choices, too. Plus, getting active and eating healthy foods as a family will help you spend more quality time together.
With childhood obesity on the rise, it is important to ask your child’s doctor to discuss weight issues with you at your child’s yearly appointment. Your child’s pediatrician can make recommendations for changes in nutrition and fitness that may make a big difference!
For additional information and tools, visit www.healthfinder.gov.
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