What Role does the Entire Family Play in Childhood Obesity?
02.26.10
The eating habits that most people carry on for their entire lives are those that are established during childhood. For this reason, the diet of the entire family is of concern when a child is overweight. The most common scenario is an overweight child with one or more overweight siblings and with at least one parent with weight issues. Trying to solve the child’s weight problem may be an impossible task unless the entire family is willing to participate and change their eating habits and activity levels. Things like weight loss camps for kids can help your child start his new eating plan.
Many children are given too many freedoms these days and they are often allowed to choose the foods that they want to eat. A couple of generations ago kids were only allowed to eat whatever was put in front of them. Children were not able to choose what food was put on the table and they didn’t have a pantry full of unhealthy snacks or vending machines around every corner at their school.
In a recent study, over 18,000 questionnaires were sent home with results showing that four in five families allow their child to have a say in what they eat. This study showed a strong link of children who have a healthy eating habits and parents who choose their meals. Another finding of the study was that the more families ate together, the less chance the child would become obese.
Other studies have shown children with low self esteem are more likely to become obese but this theory has been challenged by medical professionals who wonder if the obesity was caused by lack of self esteem – or vice versa. The types of camps formerly know as “fat camps” take a proactive approach to the link between overeating and self esteem.
One thing that scientists can’t argue about is the sharp rise in cases of childhood obesity during the last two decades. These obese children aren’t just putting unnecessary strain on their bodies either - the nationa health care system has seen a noticable strain placed on it as well. Obese children normally become obese adults. There are an increasing number of cases of adults suffering from diabetes due to being overweight. This is a great reason to deal with obese children as soon as possible.
It is believed that 10 percent of the United States children population was classified as overweight/obese in 1980. In 20 years, the numbers tripled and now stand at 30 percent. It is these staggering numbers that has brought much discussion to the childhood obesity crisis.
The shocking reality is that most parents that want to help their kids often have to start by addressing mistakes they (the parents) have made and begin undoing years of bad habits. If they allowed the child to dictate what he ate without restriction it will take time to establish nutritional rules. It may also require the full cooperation of every member of the family. A child who is not allowed to have sweets will feel only frustration if he knows a locked cabinet is filled with sweet snacks that other family members are eating. He feels deprived, unloved and mistreated and will not be able to focus on solving his own weight problem.
A good place to start is to get rid of the unhealthy foods and snacks that are likely filling up your pantry and learn to replace them with healthier alteratives. It’s a good idea if you don’t take your children shopping with you because they may try to sneak all sorts of goodies into the cart. Of course sometimes you may want to take an older child shopping so that you can explain about ingredients in foods and why they are unhealthy.
When planning your family means, pick meals that do not include fried or over-sauced foods. Start a low fat diet for the entire household. If you can change the eating behaviors of the whole family, your kid(s) that have weight isues will be much more likely to succeed.
Don’t let the child sit in front of the television all day and night. Instead, go walking with him/her. If your child is driven to school, consider dropping him/her off at the school’s curb rather than the front door. Put together some weekend activities that involve a lot of walking, swimming and more but make sure it’s something he/she be willing to do so that they don’t drag behind…not wanting to join in on the fun. This is integral to the successful strategy used at weight loss camps for kids.
Tags: childhood obesity, children health, parenting, weight loss camps, weight loss for kids