More children are overweight today then ever before in history. Some people blame it on fast food. Others say it is due to video games and lack of physical exercise. There is no quick easy way for children to lose weight. However, children do have an advantage when they still have some growing to do. Children who are just slightly over weight may just need to stop gaining weight and grow into their weight as they gain inches in height.
A teenager for example may be at an age where 10 pounds per year of weight gain is needed for normal growth. If that teen is slightly overweight, he or she may just be able to grow taller and slim down by not gaining rather then losing weight. Sometime it is tricky trying to figure out what an ideal weight for your child is. You can refer to growth charts. Checking with a health care professional is also a good idea.
Of course if your child is significantly overweight he or she will not only want to not gain weight but they will want to actually lose weight. This means your child will have to increase the amount of calories burned and or decrease the amount of calories consumed. Usually a combination of the two is most effective.
One way you can help your child is by making he or she aware of the calorie values of food. Often a lot of calories can be eliminated just by limiting the amount of soda and juice a child drinks. Even too much milk can impact weight although milk is an important part of the diet. A child generally needs about 16 to 24 ounces of milk per day. More then that can help pack on extra weight.
It is common knowledge that fast food is packed with calories. Resist the urge to pull through the drive through more than once per week. Portion size can also be a problem for overweight children. Helping your child to eat normal versus super size portions can help them lose unwanted weight while still enjoying a variety of foods.
Never tell your child he or she needs to clean their plate. Forcing a child to do so while not allowing them to learn to stop eating when they are full are habits that are hard to break. Encourage your child to eat slowly at the dinner table with the family. Enjoying family meals is a good time to catch up on everyone's activities and while parents have the chance to model healthy eating behavior. Eating while watching TV is not recommended since an individual may not be aware of the quantity consumed.
Finally encourage activity by taking family walks or bike rides. Learn a new sport like tennis, bat mitten, golf, skating or skiing. Give your children the opportunity to play team sports or take lessons in sports they show an interest in. It is never a bad idea to have available sports and exercise equipment or join a local fitness center.
You can help your child lose weight by preparing 2 week meal plans in advance. All of the meals should be discussed with your child and agreed upon. Using short reachable goals will help the child see their progress much faster, keep them motivated and have them ready for the next 2 week plan.
Jeanne Simmons has worked in the weight loss industry as a Nurse Practitioner and Therapist for many years.
Read more about Jeanne here where she has informative and interesting information and to read about the weight loss plan she uses and recommends to her clients.
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