Preventing childhood obesity begins at home

Did you know that obesity affects one-in-five children in the United States? Every September, National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month provides a chance for Americans to address this issue and offers strategies to help overcome it.

Health issues associated with obesity
Children with obesity are more likely to have chronic health issues such as asthma, sleep apnea and type 2 diabetes, among others.

They’re also more likely to be bullied and may continue to struggle with obesity as adults.

Treating and preventing obesity
Childhood obesity is both treatable and preventable. The more kids are taught to make healthy choices, the better able they are to maintain a healthy body weight. Here’s what parents can do:

• Encourage eating meals together. Studies show that when families regularly eat together, children are more likely to make healthy food choices. Eating at home also ensures that everyone eats the appropriate serving size.

• Avoid buying sugary snacks and drinks. Instead, stock the kitchen with healthy snacks like fruit, vegetables, hummus, nuts and yogurt.

• Model good behavior. Children learn by watching you, so they’re more likely to exercise and eat well if they see that you do. Make having a healthy lifestyle a priority in your family.

• Don’t put them on a diet. Restricting what your child consumes may lead to bad eating habits and low self-esteem as they get older. Offer balanced meals and snacks at regular times during the day and encourage more physical activity.

While children come in a range of shapes and sizes, obesity presents serious health risks and needs to be dealt with accordingly. If your child is overweight, be sure to consult a doctor or other health professional as soon as possible.

The 5-2-1-0 rule
To make sure everyone in your family has a healthy body shape and weight, follow the 5-2-1-0 rule. Every day, eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables, have no more than two hours of screen time, get at least one hour of exercise and drink zero sugary beverages.