How you can help your overweight child reach a healthy weight

Having a child who is overweight can be an emotional matter.  You may fear for your child’s health.  You may fear for your child’s social acceptance.  You may also fear for your child’s self acceptance.  These are all issues with which an overweight child may struggle.  You want to help your child reach a healthy weight.  But you don’t want your child to incorrectly assume your interest in his/her weight is based on appearance as opposed to health reasons.  Perhaps you wonder if you could cause your child to develop an unhealthy body image or eating disorder by addressing his/her weight.  So how do you help your child without hurting your child’s emotional wellbeing?   

Weight is a sensitive matter for adults.  How could we expect it to be any less sensitive of an issue in our children who are just developing a sense of who they are?  Because of the sensitive nature of the issue, you should handle it in a caring and compassionate manner.   

·        Be careful of how you address the issue to your child.  Be aware of the wording you use when discussing weight.  Avoid using words that you would find offensive or hurtful if addressed to you.  Try using phrases like ‘healthy diet’, ‘healthy eating’, and ’healthy lifestyle’.   

·        Do not single out your overweight child.  Provide the same snack or meal to each person you are serving.  When you are serving more than one person you do not want to single out an overweight child by serving them a separate ‘healthier’ snack or meal.  Junk food is unhealthy for all children and adults regardless of weight so feed them all the same food. 

·        Do not feed your child fast foods or high calorie drinks like soda.  These foods have no nutritional value and instill terrible diet habits in your child.  A child who is fed a healthy diet from a young age will be more likely to maintain a healthy diet as an adult.  Fast food will only worsen your child’s weight issues. 

·        Physical activity is extremely important.  It is important to help children develop healthy life habits as early as possible.  Everyone needs physical activity to become or remain healthy.  Encourage physical activities.  You do not even have to reference the child’s weight.  As with the food, all people regardless of weight need physical activity to be healthy.  Try doing something physical with your child, like bike riding, hiking, or even playing a few games of tag.   

Losing weight doesn’t have to be the priority with an overweight child.  Just preventing additional weight gain could eventually lead to your child growing into his/her weight.  By teaching your child to eat health and stay active you will be giving your child the tools he/she needs to live a health life at any weight. 

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