Joe Petrashek

5 Ways Parents Can Prevent Childhood Obesity

Joe Petrashek Blogs

Childhood obesity has become an epidemic problem and children’s lives are at stake. Juvenile diabetes is at an all time high and more and more teens are opting for weight loss surgery to curb obesity. Fortunately, there are a few things as parents that you can do to help prevent obesity, rather than deal with it when it becomes a problem in your household.

Set a Good Example

Like it or not, children learn behaviors and attitudes that are modeled by their parents and their peers. Children especially want to imitate the actions of their parents. “Do as I say, not as I do” does not work with children, and as parents you should always be aware of what you are teaching your kids on a daily basis. If you want your child to eat healthy and exercise, you need to avoid the fast food habit and make movement a regular part of your routine instead of spending hours on the couch each night.

Limit Television Time

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no more than 1-2 hours of total media time per day for each child. That includes all media such as computers, handheld video games, cell phones, movies and television. Children under the age of two should not be exposed to television at all, and instead should engage in appropriate play activities. The link between media and childhood obesity is great, so limit the time your children spend with electronics and remove the televisions from their rooms if necessary.

Toss the Junk Food

One of the easiest ways to prevent obesity is to eliminate junk food and liquid calories in the diet. Schools stopped selling sodas in vending machines because of the rate of obesity and childhood diabetes. Processed foods with high levels of sugar and fats have decreased the satisfaction our taste buds get from fresh foods such as vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Replace the junk food with fresh foods and buy low calories drink packs in place of sugary sodas, juices and sports drinks.

The Great Outdoors

A simple way to get regular exercise while keeping it fun is to spend more time outside. Send the kids outside to play afterschool instead of allowing them to sit at the computer or in front of the TV. Take a trip to the park and have some family time outdoors. Get your children used to natural forms of entertainment and at the same time they’ll get in shape with walking, hiking and swimming, too. Taking a nightly walk after dinner is a great way to get everyone involved.

Teach Responsibility

Unfortunately, you can only control what your kids eat and drink while you’re with them, so it’s important to teach them personal responsibility. If you get them in the habit of drinking water over soda, you’ll increase the chances that this is what they’ll choose when they spend time at a friend’s house. Schools have already eliminated the access to sodas on campus, but when they’re old enough to take their money to a fast food restaurant, make sure you’ve taught them about making good choices.