Personal Training Helps Overweight Kids Get Healthy

Obesity is a major issue facing kids today. Lack of activity resulting from television and video games is only a small part of the problem. Far too many kids have poor eating habits. Often, they don't understand the importance of exercise and physical fitness. Personal training can be an effective method of ensuring that your child has the tools they need to become healthy and stay that way.

In schools, gym classes and recess help teach kids how to stay physically fit. However, these classes are often ignored or done with minimal effort to get a passing grade. Few students see the importance of health-related classes, nor do they participate to their full potential.

Extracurricular sports are often helpful in maintaining a healthy weight. Most children who enjoy sports do not suffer from weight problems. While coaches, teachers and counselors encourage those who are overweight to take part in physical activity, it is often difficult to convince obese kids, who may be embarrassed about their body, to take the initiative.

Influencing a child to eat healthy, exercise and lose weight is quite often a difficult undertaking. You may consider hiring a personal trainer if your child is having problems with motivation. Instruction on an individual level will help educate your child on proper eating habits, weight loss and safe physical activities.

It is important to choose a personal trainer who is properly certified and specializes in working with children who have weight problems. The right trainer will be familiar with the problems specific to obesity in childhood.

Here are some ways a good personal coach can help your child:

Goal Setting: Children and parents may not know how to go about setting fitness and health goals until they speak with a professional. A trainer will help you set realistic goals for your child and reach them in a timely manner.

Physical Guidance: Many parents do not know the proper way to lift weights or perform specific exercises. A personal coach will teach your child how to exercise safely and effectively, minimizing the risk of injuries and maximizing the results of their efforts.

Dislike of Exercise or Sports: Obese children often dislike school activities or sports because others laugh or make fun of them. The ability to work one-on-one with a personal trainer will allow the child the freedom to work out without feeling self-conscious. As their strength and flexibility improves, their confidence will rise. Eventually, they may be sure enough of themselves to participate in group sports again.

Establishing Good Habits: Individualized coaching usually includes a dietary plan to encourage good nutrition, balanced meals and correct portion sizes, an important part of weight management. Trainers stress the importance of healthy habits like adequate sleep and good hydration, and help kids and their parents establish goals in these areas as well.

The best way to stop childhood obesity is, of course, to prevent it before it happens. Early childhood education is the first step in raising children who are conscious about physical fitness. If you are concerned that your child may develop problems with obesity in the future, investing early on in some personal training can help.

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