Obesity Discussion Forums

[Obesity Discussion]

Advice for parents of overweight kids
Resolve to encourage healthy eating this school year
COMMENTARY
By Tony Maciulis
Senior producer
MSNBC


Updated: 4:51 p.m. ET Aug 18, 2006

Overweight children don't get polite labels like "full-figured," or "plus-sized."

At best, the label on the new school uniform says "husky." The names in the schoolyard will be much tougher than that.

Parents of overweight or obese children are faced with a dilemma. You need to encourage your child to lose weight and make healthy choices, but reinforce that you love them exactly as they are.

The topic of talking to your kids about weight issues was one of the most e-mailed subjects this week.

As the summer draws to a close and a new school semester is set to begin, now is a terrific time to wipe the slate clean and make healthy choices for a new school year.

We spoke to an expert named Marilyn Tanner-Blasiar, a registered dietician with the Obesity Clinic at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, who offered some great tips:

Be a role model
Your children learn by watching you. If they need to make changes for themselves, they will take their lead off of you and the way you eat. Lead by example.


Make diet changes
Take a look at what your children are eating and drinking. Especially monitor high calorie beverages like fruit juices and sodas. Water should be encouraged. As for the other stuff, less is better.

Watch portion sizes
Her rule of thumb is no more than a fist-size serving for any particular food. Remember that as a child grows so does his or her fist. Adjust portions as the child grows.

Increase activity
Less time in front of screens, whether TV or computer. Spend more time exercising or moving around, playing active games.

Encourage personal involvement
Teach your child how to make good choices and encourage them to evaluate his or her own diet and make those choices independently. Get your child involved and on board and you’ll see a lifestyle change.

Marilyn also mentioned that food should never be a reward. That really struck a chord. How many times do we catch ourselves saying, "If you’re good, we’ll go get ice cream"?

From now on, let’s try, "If you’re good, we’ll go to a movie or to the park."

This fall semester can be the start of something great.

Childhood Obesity Advice

[yuliyasha]

Great article!
I agree 100% with the fact that parents these days will reward their kids with candies and toys. But lets think about healthy ways to encourage our kids to be active! When I had to babysit one of my cousins, I would always say: "If you'll stop crying, I'll show you the trick to that new ball game you played. That would make you win all the time!" He would stop crying immediately, because he would always want to be first and the best Or, encourage kids to go to the pool, walk the dog, chase pigeons on the back yard...etc
Just think how many times you saw kids in the grocery store throwing tantrums to their parents: "I want my Twinkies!" or "I said Snickers, mom! I want Snickers!!!!" They would yell and scream and throw themselves on the ground, kicking everything and everyone. How ambarassing, isn't it? If you think about it, most of the time it happens because parents losing control and authority by giving kids everything they want so just to make them shut up. Most of the time it is some sort of sweet treat, because kids LOVE candies So say "no" to candies and "yes" to biking, swimming, hiking, and variety of other outdoor activities. Keep your kids active and healthy!
Yuliya

[Irving]

Originally Posted by yuliyasha

Great article!
I agree 100% with the fact that parents these days will reward their kids with candies and toys.

Great post Yuliyasha! I saw this same thing on a plane yesterday where a child was throwing a tantrum in her seat screaming because she wanted candy, and of course, to keep her quiet, mom gave her what she wanted. Now this child will associate throwing tantrums with getting what she wants in life.

I think parents would rather keep their children quiet to avoid embarrassment in public, and candy is the easist bribery tool around.

[yuliyasha]

Hm...I'm definitely see it way too much to ever allow my child to act that way. What would you do? I always wonder of other creative ways to distruct children from doing crazy things :rolleyes2:

[Irving]

Originally Posted by yuliyasha

Hm...I'm definitely see it way too much to ever allow my child to act that way. What would you do? I always wonder of other creative ways to distruct children from doing crazy things :rolleyes2:

I use various methods. If you ignore the kid, they'll stop. If they realize that screaming and crying won't get your attention, then they'll eventually stop. If you keep acknowledging them they won't stop. I also rewarded my kids positively for their good behavior, and not to prevent them from acting bad. Rewarding kids can be something as simple as praise to a trip for ice cream.

Kids do not want to disappoint or make their parents sad, and they will be reluctant to act bad if they know that doing so makes you as a parent feel that way.

Lastly, I was a stern punisher. No second chances, no pushing things to the limit. 1 strike and they were out. Give them one inch, and they'll try to take a mile.