Ways To Help Your Child Lose Weight

1 in 6 children in the U.S. is obese. Being obese can hurt a child’s self-esteem and
increase the risk of several health issues, like types 2 diabetes and high blood
pressure. As a parent, it is up to you to help your child get healthy.

Here are six effective ways to help your child lose weight.

Keep junk food out of the house

If you want to help your child lose weight, it is essential to keep junk food out of the
house. If there aren’t any cookies, chips or other unhealthy foods in the kitchen, your
child will be less tempted to eat them. When your little one feels a little hungry before
mealtime, give him or her healthy snack, such as mini apple peanut butter sandwiches,
whole-wheat graham crackers or strawberry applesauce. These snacks will provide your
child with loads of nutrients without a lot of calories.

Encourage daily exercise

Regular exercise should be an important component in your child’s weight-loss journey.

If your child is physically active, he or she can burn extra calories, have more energy and
become stronger. Encourage your child to get some kind of exercise every day, whether
it is walking, swimming or bike riding. Consider exercising with your child to offer
support.

You might also want to think about having your child join a sports camp, where he or
she can plays sports in a non-judgmental environment and makes new friends.

Set a good example

Many children follow what their parents do, so it is important to set a good example,
especially when it comes to your eating habits. For example, instead of eating chips as a
snack, have a cup of fruit. If your child always sees you eating healthy, he or she is likely
to follow your lead.
Offer praise

Offering your child praise can help him or her succeed getting down to a healthy weight.
Tell your child how proud you are when he or she accomplishes something in this
weight-loss journey. For example, if you notice that your child is snacking on vegetables
instead of cookies, be sure to let your child know how happy you are that he or she is
making better eating choices.

Do not rush weight loss

It is never a good idea to rush your child’s weight-loss journey. If you teach your child
how to count calories and focus on only numbers, it can actually be emotionally
damaging. Instead, encourage your child to make lifestyle changes, like choosing fruit
over candy and exercising for at least 30 minutes a day. These small changes can help
your child lose weight gradually and still have a healthy relationship with food.

Include protein in your child’s diet

Try to include some proteins in your child’s diet. This nutrient will help your child feel
full for hours, so he or she will be less tempted to snack on unhealthy foods. Protein also
helps the body release a hormone that releases stored body fat. Good sources of protein
include eggs, peanut butter, cottage cheese, chicken and almonds.