Weight Loss Plans for Children

Weight loss plans for children should revolve around a balanced diet and daily exercise. Because children are growing and developing, weight loss should never include severe food restrictions. Parents can help children with weight issues by being a positive role model towards food and exercise.

Is a Weight Loss Plan Right for Your Child?

• Parents often overreact to a normal, healthy weight for their children as a concern for the child's popularity, appearance and future opportunities. Parents who suffer from personal low self-esteem and negative self-images may also reflect their negative attitudes unnecessarily onto their children.

  Before you decide your child has a weight problem, consider your child's body type and build and take into consideration that puberty usually causes slight weight gain in children. Check with your pediatrician to see if your child has a normal weight for his body type and age. A complete physical by your pediatrician will confirm any weight problem, and she can help you create a healthy weight loss plan if necessary. With the advice and guidance of your pediatrician, you can begin to implement a diet of healthy foods and snacks to lose weight.

Creating a Healthy Weight Loss Plan

• The best weight loss plan for children includes healthy snacks and a balanced diet of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole-grain breads and cereals, low-fat milk and milk products and lean protein meats, such as lean beef and chicken, as well as other protein sources, such as beans and nuts. Parents can also replace all high-sugar drinks, such as sodas and sports drinks, with water, pure fruit juices and low-fat milk. Junk food snacks, such as potato chips, cookies and candy, can be replaced with healthy snacks, such as low-fat yogurt, peanut butter and celery, pretzels and nuts.

  It is important for parents to be a positive role model to their children concerning healthy eating. You should reflect the behavior you expect from your children. If your child needs to lose weight, you cannot force them to eat healthy and you, as a parent, continue to eat high-calorie junk food.

  Weight loss plans for children should also include daily activities and exercise. Parents should limit the amount of time their child watches television and plays video games and encourage him to ride a bike, skate, swim and do anything else that requires movement. Children can also burn calories by helping around the house with daily chores, such as taking out the trash, vacuuming and picking up their room.