Six Ways to Help Your Child Reach a Healthy Weight

It’s important to help our children maintain a healthy weight. Health is arguably one of the most important aspects of our children’s wellbeing. With that being said, keeping our children’s weight in check is super important. However, it is difficult to talk to your child about being overweight without hurting their feelings. Starting a dialogue with our kids about weight starting at an early age will be beneficial for their current and future health. Below are six simple, supportive, and age-appropriate tips to ensure that our children manage their weight and health.

Place the focus on health
When our children understand that weight is not about appearance, it is easier for them to want to gain or lose weight. Being overweight or obese has serious health effects that, in worst cases, can lead to a shortened life. Let your children know that health is how we sustain a long, happy life and without it, our precious time on earth can be shortened.

Engage the entire family
Part of maintaining a healthy weight has a lot to do with one’s environment and diet. If your child needs to lose weight, eating a balanced diet will be necessary. But it will be a lot more difficult if he/she is the only one who has to do that. Provide healthy, balanced meals so the entire family can support your child in achieving a goal weight.

Get out and play
Too often kids are sedentary, whether it is playing video games or watching TV. Make your kids get outside and move around! It’s amazing what can happen when we replace sitting with moving around.

Force of habit
Everything in your refrigerator and pantry should be health-friendly. Don’t allow items in the house that will tempt your child to break a healthy routine.

Don’t contradict yourself
If you are going to help your child make decisions that will benefit his health, then you must too. Setting an example for your child is perhaps the most important step in the process. A child isn’t going to want to change if he/she sees their parents continuing bad habits.

Start the conversation
Open dialogue with your child is crucial to his/her success and for your relationship together. So if you see a problem with your child’s health, speak up and start the conversation.