Kids' Weight Loss Diets

If your child is obese or overweight, she is far from alone. According to the American Heart Association, just over 17 percent of children in the United States are overweight. That is almost one out of every five.
Chances are that you are aware of the health risks that being overweight poses for your child, but stopping the weight gain is a challenge.

The First Step

• Talking to your child's physician should be the first step. Not only can your doctor be a helpful tool to create a healthy diet for your child, she can evaluate the seriousness of your child's condition.
  Because children are growing, and grow at different rates, many parents do not know when to intervene in their child's weight gain or how much weight gain is healthy. Your doctor can be of great assistance in determining if your child needs a lifestyle change or is simply going through an awkward stage.
  If a lifestyle change is needed your doctor can help you create a healthy diet for your child, or may refer you to a nutritionist.

The Diet

• While it is best to follow the recommendations of your doctor, there are two schools of thought on which type of diet is best for kids.
  Some doctors will recommend the low-fat, low-calorie diet that has been used for a couple of decades now. Most Americans are familiar with this type of diet, which encourages you to cut out fats and lower your caloric intake.
  The second type of diet that your doctor may recommend is based on the glycemic index. This type of diet is more about keeping your kids feeling full and making sure that they get the right nutrients. On this type of diet your doctor will recommend proteins with "good" fats, like nuts and lean meats, and whole grains along with lots of fruits and vegetables.
  This type of diet is based on a newer science, but is growing in popularity due to its health benefits and ease of following. It is especially well suited to children because they do not have to keep track of every calorie they consume.
  Regardless of which diet your health professional recommends, be prepared to serve up lots of healthy fruits and vegetables and cut back on non-diet soda and junk food.

A Support System

• A good support system is crucial to the success of any weight loss attempt, but is even more important for a child.
  Children look to their parents for guidance and learn from example. This means that the entire family need to be active participants in this new healthy lifestyle. This not only means healthy meals for the whole family, but also means cutting back on the availability of unhealthy snacks for everyone.
  Telling Junior that he cannot have a brownie while he watches his sibling or mom and dad enjoy them is a recipe for failure, and does not send a good message about making healthy choices.
  If everyone at the tables forgoes a brownie, in addition to setting an example you will also be making it easier for your child to make good decisions. This type of support needs to continue when your child goes to school. This could mean simply talking to your child about healthy choices at the cafeteria, or it could mean packing lunches for him.