How Can We Combat Obesity in Children

Despite numerous reports on television and in the newspapers about alarming rates at which obesity in children is attacking the United States, few of us are choosing to do anything about it. While what we put in our own stomachs is a result of our own effort, what we provide for our children is even more important because they do not do the grocery shopping, cooking or serving. They eat what they see and if we do not provide healthful options, obesity in children will increase even more rapidly. Here are some simple ways you can help combat obesity in children starting with your own family.

Portion Control

Even if it does cost just 49 cents to upsize a portion of fast food fries or drink, resist the urge to give in. It is not the money that is the issue here. Anyways American proportions are gigantic as compared to European and Asian counterparts and coupled with that is the fact that it costs only a pittance more to get more food.

What we are doing is encouraging obesity in children by treating them to greasy foods and then biggie sizing it for them so that their stomach and brain gets the message that this is the normal size everyone should eat. They get used to eating that portion size and the problem just gets compounded every time they are in such a fast food setting

Snack Control

If parents are working, busy or just not always around to prepare healthy meals from scratch, have great snacking option in order to help your children fight obesity. While totally banning chips and cookies may not be very wise as then they will crave them even more and go crazy at a friend place. However, only getting single serving bags and that too on occasion can help the fight against obesity in children. Instead keep fat free pretzels, popcorn, cut up fruits and veggies, humus, crackers and peanut butter on whole grain bread as better snacking choices. If they are hungry and they don’t see a candy bar, they will grab the carrot stick instead - trust me.

Get Moving

Instead of buying your children more expensive toys and video games, get them out of the house (or if its too cold, at least off the couch) and moving in some way. Even if an exercise video may sound impossible, pop in a dance video and let them imitate you, reward them for helping to vacuum or get a ping pong table for the basement. Any thing which will make them move more and enjoy doing so is a feather in the cap for the fight against obesity in children.

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