The rates of obesity prevalence have tripled in the last four decades in the US. Today, an estimated seventeen percent of the American kids are obese, while two-thirds of the population is overweight. This trend is worrying as obesity in children is linked to a vast range of health complications.
Health suggestions on weight loss in children have been devised, but their emotional and physical detriment on overweight kids is overwhelming. But, did you know that getting guardians and parents to take-up the weight loss challenge to their homes is one of the safest, most affordable, and viable ways of weight loss in kids? This implies that this approach emphasizes that weight loss in children should focus on parents, and not children.
It is undeniable that children are the ones suffering from obesity in this case, but recent research shows that involving parents in the journey to weight loss in children yields even better outcomes. So, are you willing to learn about what you need to do to help your overweight kids to lose weight? If yes, read on for the top tips on child weight loss.
Select a Working Food Lifestyle
Did you know that food, and not physical exercise, is the key to weight loss among overweight children? Well, some diets are known to trigger weight loss and initiate a healthy eating plan.
In this case, diet implies the food your kid eats as opposed to the stringent “three spoons of food serving” per day. Choosing a working food lifestyle is essential in emphasizing to children that eating for health has greater benefits than attaining a given desired physique and losing weight. It is important that as you choose a food lifestyle, your kids support you when they are informed that such lifestyle will help them to fuel their bodies while enhancing their nourishment.
Therefore, insist on a standard supply of veggies, fruits, whole grains, and healthy fats are a great way to initiate a working food lifestyle for your kids. I bet, your kids are already familiar with these foods. The main argument is the need to let these foods take center stage in their meals. With an adequate supply of these foods, you not only enhance weight loss in your kids but also help to boost their immunity against obesity-related health complication including metabolic issues and type-2 diabetes. The link here leads to a detailed guide to healthy foods for weight loss.
Avoid the Purchase of Unhealthy Drinks.
How bad can sweetened drinks be? Research has linked excessive intake of sweetened sugars with weight gain. The same research indicates a significant reduction in unwanted weight in adolescents who replace sweetened sugars with safer beverages.
There is no doubt that sweetened-sugar consumption yields an increase in weight among adolescents and kids. So, if your kid is overweight, you need to watch his pop and energy drink consumption patterns. Taken with the insignificant argument that they improve hydration, these beverages have little, often no discernible health benefit.
All your kids need for adequate and safe hydration is enough water. Considering that they might find it difficult to switch from sweetened beverages to water, you should consider buying a fruit infuser water bottle which will not only motivate them to drink enough water but also make them fall in love with the delicious flavor of fruit in their drinking water.
Avoid Demonizing Food
How often do you demonize some foods when your kids savor them? I could be at loggerheads with you on this, but it doesn’t mean I encourage kids to feel on some unhealthy foods. You cannot control every single food that your child feeds on.
Imagine those visitations paid to their friends, the birthday parties they grace in the neighborhood, and even the after-school events they attend; will you always be with them to ensure they eat the right food?
The point is, do not make your kid develop the perception that you don’t want to see them eat particular foods, or certain foods are the worst ever. This will only make them guilty. Instead, make the children understand that some foods are just not good for their health, and they can only be sparingly eaten during special occasions.
Ensure Your Kid Gets Enough Sleep
Unbelievably, kids with poor sleeping habits tend towards binge eating. Such are the views of the Childhood Obesity Foundation pediatrician who identifies a strong connection between excessive weight gain and sleep deprivation in children. How is that even possible? Staying awake means, the overproduction of ghrelin hormone which in turn encourages overeating while it decreases leptin hormone necessary to make the child feel satiated.
For your kid to get a minimum of nine hours of nighttime sleep, you have to motivate them to sleep. Especially, reduce their TV time as nighttime sleep time nears. Indeed, a study conducted by Harvard University reveals that extensive TV watching triggers obesity in children due to longer sit time. Therefore, minimize TV before bedtime for better sleep and weight loss.
Observe the Portions You Serve Your Kids.
Kids should only be given kid-sized food portions until that they become teenagers. However, this does not imply that all children should be subjected to equal portions. Remember, the amount of food will vary accordingly depending on the child’s sex and level of activity. However, you should start with a smaller serving followed by another if the child demands more.
The portion size goes hand in hand with allowing the kid stop eating the moment they say they are full. While most of us grew up during a time when we had to clear our plates, do not subject your kids to similar treatment. Do not force the kids to eat when they are not hungry, neither should you force them to clear their serving even when they have eaten to their fill.
Promote Your Kid’s Emotional Health
Even though fun physical activity and a healthy diet are healthy childhood prescriptions, a child’s psychological well-being plays a significant role in determining their fitness. If you help your child to achieve happiness and self worth sense, then that kid is better placed to lose excess weight.
Therefore, it is important to identify activities which tend to boost the self-esteem of your kid and adopt them into their usual routine. From personal experience, my kids love skipping the rope, and I occasionally join them in this game. You too can discover what your kids love, and help them to ward off tension which could encourage weight gain.
Make These Tips a Family Affair.
You must have learned that your kids are learning a lot of stuff by copying from adults. Equally, the journey to weight loss in kids is not a one-sided affair. Your child could feel embarrassment if, for example, the food lifestyle that you have adopted is meant for them, while the rest of the family are feeding on something different.
The beauty of making the tips an entire family affair and each one of you will be keeping fit with these tips. Lead by example, and buy yourself a fruit infuser water bottle, and savor those fresh veggies and fruits loaded in the fridge. In the end, you will help your kids healthily lose weight.
In a nutshell, weight loss among kids is parent-controlled. This means that the parent plays a vital role in determining whether their kids gain weight or stay fit. As a parent, you directly influence your kid’s lifestyle. Try the above tips, and let your kid lead a healthy childhood without obese-related health issues.