Is your family struggling with overweight or obesity?
To lose weight, take a team approach. Studies show that when overweight parents shed pounds, so do their overweight kids.
Parents hold the keys to positive behaviors that
encourage a healthy weight, from doing the food shopping and cooking to
getting kids involved in sports and other fitness activities.
Even if there's one family member who doesn't need to
lose weight, everyone will enjoy better health by putting the focus on
more nutritious eating and being active as a forever lifestyle, rather
than just going on a temporary diet.
One of the most important changes you can make is cutting
out all junk food, soda and even juice because it's high in natural
sugars. Switch to alternatives like milk & water. Have fruits &
vegetables within reach for healthy snacks, and wean kids off greasy
chips with whole grain crackers.
Next, rebalance the amount of time spent watching TV and
spent exercising -- limiting screen time helps kids lose weight. Be sure
to turn off the TV during meals for more mindful eating.
Try this family weight-loss action plan:
- Set limits on portion sizes to curb calories.
- Eliminate sugary drinks.
- Limit TV and computer time to 2 hours a day.
- Increase fun family fitness activities.
- Celebrate health achievements with non-food rewards like going to the movies.
- Set limits on portion sizes to curb calories.
- Eliminate sugary drinks.
- Limit TV and computer time to 2 hours a day.
- Increase fun family fitness activities.
- Celebrate health achievements with non-food rewards like going to the movies.
It's also worth repeating that when parents sit down with kids at the dinner table, kids eat healthier, and family relationships benefit from the social interaction.
Be sure to communicate these new behaviors to your extended family and all caregivers so they'll know to support your efforts.
