Back to School is in full swing and we need to remember to keep our children healthy during the entire school year. In an effort to bring awareness on how to prevent obesity in children, try these tips to help your child achieve a healthier weight:
1- Get moving- the simple act of walking can burn calories and put you on the road to being more active. Take the stairs or take a walk after dinner. Martial arts, biking, or watching exercise videos, try to choose something that you feel you or your child can stick to.
2- Ditch the soda. Substitute water for sugary soda and sports drinks and you can lose up to a pound a month.
3- Learn to take care of emotional needs without turning to food. People often use food to fill a void or seek comfort. It creates a vicious cycle.
4- Enforce bedtime since not enough sleep increases your appetite.
5- Focus on small smart changes and the results will follow.
If the entire house is filled with healthy meals and snacks, then it becomes the norm for everyone to eat well. No one is singled out. It also helps to turn off the TV. The more you watch, the more likely you are to gain excess weight. Try for less than one to two hours a day. Remember, weight loss and a healthy lifestyle is a process- it doesn’t happen overnight.