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And as parents or other concerned adults, you may ask: What steps can we take to prevent obesity in our children? This page provides answers to some of the questions you may have, as well as resources to help you keep your family healthy.
The tips below can help your family be healthy and happy. Try to eat at least 3 ounces of whole grains each day. Drink plenty of fluids. Children and play from birth to three years, how play aids child development, what to For more information on keeping your child safe, see BC Children's Hospital's Home This will help your baby connect with you and grow in healthy ways.
To help your child maintain a healthy weight, balance the calories your child consumes from foods and beverages with the calories your child uses through physical activity and normal growth. Remember that the goal for children who are overweight is to reduce the rate of weight gain while allowing normal growth and development.
Children should NOT be placed on a weight reduction diet without the consultation of a health care provider. One part of balancing calories is to eat foods that provide adequate nutrition and an appropriate number of calories.
You can help children learn to be aware of what they eat by developing healthy eating habits, looking for ways to make favorite dishes healthier, and reducing calorie-rich temptations. To help your children and family develop healthy eating habits:. The recipes that you may prepare regularly, and that your family enjoys, with just a few changes can be healthier and just as satisfying.
Although everything can be enjoyed in moderation, reducing the calorie-rich temptations of high-fat and high-sugar, or salty snacks can also help your children develop healthy eating habits. Instead only allow your children to eat them sometimes, so that they truly will be treats! Here are examples of easy-to-prepare, low-fat and low-sugar treats that are calories or less:. Another part of balancing calories is to engage in an appropriate amount of physical activity and avoid too much sedentary time. In addition to being fun for children, regular physical activity has many health benefits, including:.
Children should participate in at least 60 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity most days of the week, preferably daily. Remember that children imitate adults. Start adding physical activity to your own daily routine and encourage your child to join you. In addition to encouraging physical activity, help children avoid too much sedentary time.
Although quiet time for reading and homework is fine, limit the time your children watch television, play video games, or surf the web to no more than 2 hours per day. Additionally, the American Academy of Pediatrics AAP does not recommend television viewing for children age 2 or younger. Instead, encourage your children to find fun activities to do with family members or on their own that simply involve more activity. Here are some additional resources that you and your child can use to help reach or keep a healthy weight through physical activity and healthy food choices!
For example, aim to eat more vegetables and less high-calorie foods. However, the Department of Health recommends that those between the ages of 12 to 18 years should be encouraged to spend at least 60 minutes engaged in moderate to vigorous physical activities each day 5. If you offer it on another day, they may eat it! Please note that we cannot answer personal medical queries. Children with obesity also have more risk factors for heart disease like high blood pressure and high cholesterol than their normal weight peers.
For children, BMI is used to screen for obesity, but is not a diagnostic tool. Childhood Overweight and Obesity. How do your children spend their free time on the weekends and after school? Do they play in the backyard or at the park? Do they play on swings, ride their bikes, rollerblade or skateboard with their friends?
Or do they spend long hours watching television or playing computer games? Giving babies the chance to move around freely each day helps to keep their bodies and minds active. Moving freely allows babies to further develop their senses as well as good posture, strength and balance. Interacting with others through play gives young infants the opportunity to develop language and communication skills.
Some simple play activities and exercises for young babies include: Toddlers and pre-schoolers should be physically active for at least three hours each day, and this activity should be spread throughout the day. Active play helps young children improve the health of their muscles, bones and heart, develop new movement skills, build self confidence and improve their communication and social skills.
Some examples of activities that young children may enjoy include: Yes, I'll support Nutrition Australia!
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Designed and hosted by Infoxchange Australia. Overweight children often grow into overweight adults who are then at risk of developing a number of health problems such as diabetes, hypertension,. Our lifestyle today has become increasingly sedentary. Both adults and children rely more on gadgets and services which reduce the amount of activity they participate in during their day. Lifts, escalators, remote control garage doors,. Physical activity plays a major role in maintaining a healthy body weight and that is why it is so important to encourage children to keep moving 3.
Children are naturally active; they simply need encouragement, ideas and suggestions for activities.