Weightloss: Help Your Child Lose Weight

Is your child overweight? A high calorie diet and lack of physical activity is often the main reason behind obesity in children. Add to this genetics, and unhealthy eating patterns and you would have hit the nail on the head. However in rare cases, a medical problem such as an endocrine disorder may also be a cause of overweight. Although you have no control over hereditary factors, as parents what you can control are your child's eating patterns and activity level. If you ensure that your child maintains a healthy lifestyle from the very beginning, chances are that he or she will not be a prey to obesity.

Do you believe that growing kids can eat anything and stay healthy because they naturally enjoy being active? Unfortunately this is nothing more than a misconception. Children actually need a good fitness and diet plan since lack of physical activity, easily available junk food, watching TV and playing on the computer instead of outdoor games can make them susceptible to weight gain. As parents, however, you can help your child stay fit. Here's how:

Support your child

Criticizing or blaming the child for his overweight is of no use. Instead, talk with your children about your concerns over weight and health; encourage them to accept the reality no matter how difficult it is. Teach them to accept and feel good about themselves whatever their body image.

Make exercise a family affair

Incorporate exercise into your family's routine. Plan outings with your family, play with your child and introduce more planned physical activities as part of the normal routine so that your child does not feel as if the exercise is being imposed on him alone.

Practice healthy eating.

Provide nutritious snacks and teach your children about making healthy food choices on their own.

Take serious things seriously

If your child is overweight and you are not able to help him reduce, take professional advice. May be you need to consult a doctor? And always remember practise what you preach.

Psychological warfare is not right

A trip to the fast food restaurant, bingeing on chocolates or an off from morning exercise are no rewards for good behaviour. It can do more harm than good to your child. You have to make them realize that excess weight is unhealthy. However, don't harp on the issue since being overweight is often an emotional issue.

Choose the right exercise

This is an important consideration as the exercise should be enjoyable, suitable and doable for your child so that they can stick to it. Try to include more than one kind of exercise. And always encourage them to participate in household chores that will help them become active.

Go slow

Keep the exercise schedule dynamic but don't rush. Increase the amount of exercise gradually, e.g. increase the walking/running distance each time. Keep proper records of each exercise, e.g. the distance walked, time taken, the level of discomfort and energy consumed. This can help a lot in future planning and progress checking.

Active support and encouragement from parents may help a child more than any exercise or workout. So support your child, praise him and you will be amazed at their cooperation and energy levels.