With a third of the kids in the United States overweight, talking to your youngster about the importance of maintaining a healthy weight is more important than ever.
Some parents find it more comfortable to talk to their kids about drugs, abstinence and alcoholism than to talk to them about weight management. Sometimes moms and dads think that if they bring up the topic of weight to their kids, it will trigger self-esteem issues and ultimately lead to eating disorders.
Why Talk About It?
Research shows that children who develop a problem with obesity at a young age are more likely to struggle with obesity and obesity related health problems as adults.
Being overweight is dangerous. It can cause chronic health conditions that include:
- Hypertension
- Diabetes
- High cholesterol
- Clogged arteries
- Joint problems
- Heart disease
- Strokes
All of these conditions can interfere with your kid’s quality of life, make him or her dependent on medications and shorten his life expectancy by years. Not only this, overweight kids often have to deal with self-esteem issues caused by the constant ridicule from their peers.
You can minimize the risk of your child being overweight by talking to him or her about weight management. So how do you approach the topic of weight with your kids? Simple – just do it. When you talk to your child, reiterate the fact that managing weight is not about appearance, but about staying healthy and reducing the risk of life altering diseases.
Instead of just talking to your kids about weight control, serve as a role model by letting them see you make healthy food choices and engage in regular exercise. If your child is already overweight, talk to your doctor about options for healthy weight loss in Chandler that would benefit the entire family.