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Obesity in Kids
Obesity is not only a problem in adults, but is also a problem in children. Being obese presents many disadvantages to the person's health and social relationships especially in childhood. Obesity can be hard to fix so we should focus on preventing obesity. Preventing obesity should begin in childhood, because obesity in childhood is likely to continue into adulthood.
Research has shown that parents have a vital role in preventing obesity in their kids, since they are the ones who provide the food, and encourage eating and physical activities patterns.
What can I do to prevent my child from becoming obese?
Here are some recommendations to prevent your child from becoming obese:
Don't make your child finish off every meal. If the child isn't hungry don't force him/her to eat.
Encourage physical activity and sports. Take your child on long walks when possible.
Discourage and restrict excessive TV and computer time.
Do not use food as a comfort or a reward, use praise instead.
Decrease the cooking of unhealthy food.
Buy less high cholesterol and sugary foods.
Limit your visits to fast food restaurants.
Use fruit, nuts and low fat yoghurts as healthy desserts.
Provide a healthy breakfast and low calorie snacks at night. (Calories consumed in the early morning tend to be used up as fuel whilst calories consumed at night tend to turn into fat)
Monitor the child's weight and height regularly and consult your doctor or pediatrician if the child goes out of the healthy range.
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