subject: How Everyone Can Help to Prevent Childhood Obesity [print this page] How Everyone Can Help to Prevent Childhood Obesity
It is an obvious fact that there are too many obese adults and obese children in our country today. Childhood obesity is a serious health problem one that needs attention beginning with the teaching of the children. Are you raising obese children with eating disorder problems?
In our abundant food environment we must help our children achieve good eating habits to avoid a lifetime of obesity.
Where did this start? If you look back on your own childhood you will hear words from your parents. Unfortunately, these words, meant as help, are repeated to our children. One of the most common "food sayings" we all remember is: "Eat all your dinner or you don't get dessert". This threat causes the child to eat more than his body wants or needs but will often be rewarded with even more high calorie sweet dessert. Besides trying to earn the dessert your child is trying to get your approval of his actions. If he eats all his dinner and his dessert you will love him. Please just say "I love you" often and don't make it a reward for overeating.
Wouldn't it be better to just say: "Save room for dessert tonight"? And then don't serve a dessert every night. If there is no dessert, meat and vegetables will satisfy a hungry child. And if you insist they eat all vegetables before dessert, you are in effect saying that vegetables are "yucky" and only dessert is good. Fruit for a snack before bedtime should be adequate.
And you may have heard this a hundred times: "You are such a good eater."
Of course children want to please their parents and win praise, but there are many ways of gaining praise. Eating is for fueling the body not for gaining praise. A child is apt to overeat and be a "good eater" to please you.
Or you may have heard the opposite: "You are such a picky eater."
Children and adults have some foods which they just don't like. Accept that. Don't force foods on children. This can become learned behavior when you berate, beg or bribe kids to eat what they don't like. Try to encourage "one small polite bite" of every food. Likes can change. Behavior patterns are difficult to break. If "picky eating" gets your attention this will be a ploy to get that attention.
How about this one: "Clean your plate; there are starving children in China."
We have all heard that one, and unfortunately, most of us have repeated it to our children. (Remember our answer: Then send it to the starving kids; I don't want it.) This is wrong from every angle you look at it. Just remind them not to be wasteful and take only what they need. If you are full, we can save the rest for later. Some children somewhere are starving, but don't dwell on it.
This should be especially emphasized if you are eating out at a buffet style meal. Teach your children to take what they want, but emphasize that they eat what they take. In this case they may go back for a little more but do not encourage waste or overeating. Setting an example would be the best teacher in this case.
Tell your children that many foods, especially vegetables, make you healthy and strong. Serve a variety of vegetables. If the child doesn't like peas, maybe green beans will taste better to him.
And please don't continually state that you feel gross and fat. Don't comment a friend "who has let herself go". Our kids learn from us even when we think they are not listening. What they learn from the above statements is that it's okay to put yourself and others down and to judge people for their weight. If the child is overweight he becomes even more concerned about his weight and more apt to eat to ease his feelings of anxiety. If you feel that your weight, or your child's, is a problem, keep it to yourself.
Instead of discussing weight, suggest the family go for a walk after dinner. Keep the conversation on positive things in your children's lives. If they are overweight (and you are also) everyone knows it and the subject does not need rehashing. Try to make walking a daily habit.
No matter how you approach the subject of weight, remember that your attitudes, talk and actions control your children. Over-emphasizing any subject eating, weight, watching TV, walking, family leisure activities can all be factors in saving yourself and your children from a lifetime of obesity.
Remember fighting childhood obesity needs to start early. Do not praise or ridicule a child for their eating habits. Provide the family with a variety of healthy food, and encourage everyone to sample different foods.
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