Children & Weight Management
Q: Our fourth grade son is overweight and my husband and I are struggling with how to help him. My husband is slightly over-weight and I am always trying to lose a few pounds so we know our habits are not the best. What should we be doing?
A: You are right to be considering what your eating habits are like as well as your exercise habits. The most important thing you can do for your son is get your own habits improved regarding food and exercise.
Some questions to ponder:
- Does your son see you (both parents) being physically active on a regular basis ( at least 4-5x/wk) walking, biking, playing with frisbee or basketball etc?
- Does your son see you planning, preparing and eating healthy meals at home, including fresh fruits and vegetables daily?
- How many times weekly does your family gather at your table for a home-cooked balanced meal with no distractions (TV, reading, computer etc)?
- How many times weekly do you take your child to a restaurant where they most likely order a meal high in calories and/or fat?
- Are you teaching your son how to cook simple healthy items, he can easily prepare including fruit and vegetable dishes?
Take a look at our "Kids Recipes" on this web site.
A recent study examined 5,000 preschoolers 4-5 years old. Children of fathers with a parenting style of high warmth and high control (authoritative parent) has the best impact on child development resulting in a lower BMI (body mass index/lower weight). Chances of a higher BMI increased by 59% for children of permissive fathers and 35% for children of disengaged fathers.
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children & weight
DISCLAIMER: The information provided here is to help make informed decisions about
your health. It is not a substitute for the advice or treatment given
by your doctor. Please consult a registered dietitian or your doctor if
you have any questions about the information given on this page.
