How to Treat Obesity in Children

Experts seldom recommend weight loss for obese children. Instead, the goal usually is to slow the rate of weight gain or stop it altogether. If your child's physician does recommend weight loss, she'll typically suggest only a two pound weight loss per month. It's important to be accepting and supportive of the child regardless of his weight, and involve the entire family in healthy, long-term lifestyle changes. By promoting physical activity and helping your child make appropriate dietary choices, you can help him achieve and maintain a healthy weight.

Instructions

• 1

  Encourage the child's weight management, but don't criticize her lifestyle choices. It's natural for your child to be sensitive about her body image and worry about how that image impacts social relationships. Let her know you love and accept her, and give positive reinforcement for healthy choices.

• 2

  Limit your child's involvement in sedentary activities. A child who sits in front of the television, spends hours with video games, or constantly surfs the Internet isn't burning many calories, and is likely to be mindlessly snacking.

• 3

  Encourage physical activities that employ various muscle groups, make the child sweat a little and increase his heart rate a bit. Swimming, biking, running and aerobic exercise classes strengthen different parts of the body while providing a good cardiovascular workout. Give your child the chance to try out various sports and fitness activities to see what he enjoys, and don't push him to participate in those that embarrass him or make him uncomfortable.

• 4

  Help your child integrate regular physical activity into her daily schedule. Shoot for at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise each day, and teach time management skills so the child can be physically active without giving up time for homework or relaxation. Plan some family activities that blend fun with exercise, and show your child how much fun it is to participate in those activities together.

• 5

  Choose healthy foods for mealtimes, and make sure there are plenty of wise snack options available for afterschool munching. Bring your child along to the grocery store, let him help write the shopping list, and pick some intriguing healthy recipes to cook together. If you don't want your child to eat doughnuts, don't bring a dozen of them home to tempt him.

• 6

  Allow the child to make her food choices from some carefully planned, healthy options. Design a menu that's rich in whole-grains, fruits, and vegetables and make sure there are plenty of low- or non-fat dairy products available.