Weight Loss For Kids.

Hi Guys

Today I am going to change the topic slightly and instead of looking at weight loss for you,  I am going to be talking a bit about weight loss for kids.

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If your child needs to lose weight, you will have to ignore the popular diet programs because they are aim primarily at adults.

Although you might be inclined to put your child on a diet, experts generally say that's not the best approach.

To help an overweight child, you can begin with small changes to your family's diet and lifestyle to make it healthier for everyone.  

Start by choosing one or two steps and working your way gradually into a healthier lifestyle.

It is also a good idea to talk to your doctor to get advice.

You should be doing this anyway if your child is over weight.

If you child is still growing then aim to just maintain their weight.

Putting your child on a weight loss program could stunt their growth.

Again, it is worth talking to a trained weight loss professional or your doctor about this.

Try and make weight loss for your child fun.

If it is not fun, then chances are they will not go along with it.

Try and make sure you eat all your meals at the dinner table and not on their laps whilst watching television.

Children who eat whilst watching television tend to be more overweight because they are not paying attention to how much they are eating and when they feel full.

Track how many servings of vegetables and fruits your overweight child eats. 

Your ultimate goal should be your child eating five or more servings a day.

 
Eliminate sugared beverages such as soda, sports drinks, and fruit punch.

It may take time to get out of the habit of having sugary drinks every day. 

If they normally drink four sugary drinks a day, try switching to three a day for a week. 

Then cut back to two drinks a day the next week, and so on

 Make sure your child eats breakfast every day.

If time is an issue, choose items to eat on the run, such as peanut butter on toast.

 Increase your child's daily physical activity.

Gradually build up to the goal of having your child be physically active for at least one hour a day. 

Look for little ways throughout the day to get him moving, such as doing squats or knee raises while brushing his teeth or doing jumping jacks during commercials while watching a morning cartoon.

I hope this helps your child to keep control of their weight.

Talk to you again tomorrow.

Stephen Hart