How to Decrease Child Obesity

Large serving portions contribute to child obesity.

Obesity is an epidemic effecting all social classes and age groups, including children. One in every three children in the United States is clinically obese. Obesity can result in serious health complications, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol, and heart attacks or strokes. Obesity issues have a significant effect on a larger scale. Weight-related health issues, like obesity, stack up an annual $147 billion bill for the US Government. In early 2010, First Lady Michelle Obama campaigned for and helped pass a $400 million initiative to decrease child obesity. The 'Let's Move' program, with the support of others alike, try to decrease the amount of child obesity cases by promoting healthier lifestyle and changes to children's diets.

Things You'll Need

• Diet information
• Balanced, nutritious foods
• Lunch bag or box
• Drinking water
• Natural juices

Instructions

Decreasing Child Obesity

1. Support efforts to improve school food programs to provide healthier meal options to students. Try to pack your child lunch to take to school. Make it a balanced meal by including carbohydrates, proteins and nutritious fats.

2. Purchase more balanced and nutritious food at your local grocery store. Support programs aimed at partnering with grocery stores to invest in more rural communities, or "food deserts."

3. Encourage children to have more active lifestyles. Introduce new sports or activities for them to participate in. Limit the amount of time children sit in front of the television or computer.

4. Provide home-made meals, which are typically healthier than restaurant food, more often.Avoid giving your children soda or other sugary drinks. Encourage children to drink more water or natural juices.

5. Restaurant meals usually come in unnecessarily large portion sizes. When eating at a restaurant, a child is either more likely to over eat, eat foods higher in calorie counts, or both. Limit the amount of times children eat out, or help children manage the amount of food they eat when over served.

Tips & Warnings

• Take into account the quantity as well as the quality of food children eat. Consider planting your own vegetable garden.

References

• LetsMove.gov
• US DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE: Weight and Obesity
• MSNBC.com: By Any Other Name, It's Still a Supersize
• Mayo Clinic: Childhood Obesity