5 Tips to Help Your Kids Overcome Obesity

Published on December 7 , 2023 | 3 Minutes to Read

Share :

With 1 out of 4 children struggling with weight issues, childhood obesity is a major concern for parents in Australia. There is a need to provide tips to help kids overcome obesity. A research published in the “Journal of Clinical Research and Pediatric Endocrinology” points out that the probability of children of obese parents getting overweight or obese is as high as 80 percent. Obese children are more likely to grow up to be overweight adults. Apart from adopting a healthy diet and exercise regimen, obesity surgery is another way forward. This blog post details five easy tips that you can adopt to help your children overcome obesity.

Tips to prevent childhood obesity –

• Focus on providing a balanced diet: Our body, irrespective of age require minimum fuel and maximum nutrition. Every time your kid eats, ensure they are getting good amount of nutrition. Provide them with whole grains, fresh fruits, vegetables, and protein-rich foods. Nutritionists, dieticians, fitness trainers and obesity physicians opine that eating right is half the job done! It is the responsibility of parents to ensure the kids eat right. 
• Lead by example: It is always seen that kids model their parents’ behavior. Right from parents’ eating habits to their lifestyle, children observe and try to replicate what parents do. It is crucial that parents understand this – eat right, have an active lifestyle and embrace that to show how much fun it is to eat healthy and exercise regularly. 
• Encourage physical activity: Physical activity is crucial for kids’ overall growth and development. For healthy weight management, it is important that children spend a minimum of 60 minutes every day playing outdoors, indulging in sports, dance, and such other activities.  
• Educate them about nutrition: Gone are the days when kids blindly followed what elders instructed. Children today demand justification for everything they are asked to do. Teaching them about healthy food choices and the impact it can have on their life can take them a long way. A tip here is to involve them in grocery shopping where they can help you pick healthy options. You can also involve them in cooking or let them prepare (under supervision) their own healthy snack.
• Choose healthy snacking options – When kids understand why it is important to eat healthy, it is easy to convince them to pick a healthy snack. A fried food or fast food can be allowed once in a while, but eating healthy should become a way of life. 

For kids who are overweight or obese, it is important that parents support them and explain to them that obesity is a chronic illness that is a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Ensure they do not experience physical and emotional turmoil. If necessary, consult healthcare professionals and nutritionists for personalized care. If you do not see any improvement, it is advisable to consult a bariatric surgeon to discuss weight loss surgery procedures for children. 

Read other blogs:

https://www.perthsurgicalbariatrics.com.au/healthy-lifestyle-in-early-childhood-vital-to-manage-the-risk-of-obesity/

https://www.perthsurgicalbariatrics.com.au/6-helpful-tips-to-overcome-food-cravings-after-bariatric-surgery/

https://www.perthsurgicalbariatrics.com.au/psychological-consequences-of-childhood-obesity-prevention/

https://www.perthsurgicalbariatrics.com.au/teenage-obesity-a-growing-threat/