Child Weight Loss Tips

The issue of overweight children arises more commonly than you might initially think. Parents need to help children lose weight to keep them healthy, strong and disease-free while they're young, and to better prepare them for adulthood. Assisting with child weight loss should be family-focused, rather than child-focused. Changing the lifestyle patterns of the family unit helps to ensure the best results for child weight loss.

Model Healthy Behaviors

• Children of all ages mimic the behaviors of the adults around them. To help a child lose weight, be a good role model by demonstrating healthy behaviors. For example, if the adult selects sliced apples instead of French fries as a side item at a fast-food diner, the children will be more likely to make the same choice.

Family Affair

• Don't single out your child as being overweight and the only one in the family who needs to go on a diet. Encourage positive habits and take the focus off any negativity toward your child and her weight. To help with child weight loss, your focus should be changing bad habits into good habits for the entire family unit. For example, don't give one child a bowl of peaches for dessert while everyone else eats cake smothered in rich icing. The child will feel isolated and often sneak food or become rebellious. The entire family should focus on positive changes.

Fun, Healthy Living

• Make child weight loss fun and enjoyable. Instead of popping in an exercise tape, take everyone to the park and play Frisbee, or take an evening walk together to collect natural treasures, such as rocks or leaves. You can fix many attractive and kid-centered desserts that are healthy for children. Or have the children participate in making kid-friendly recipes that are not only fun to cook, but also fun to eat. Eating healthy and exercising doesn't have to be boring or a chore.