One to three children in the U.S. are overweight or obese.
“Am I fat?” is a question no parent wants to hear, but needs to be able to answer in a non judgmental way. Dr. Fried says. “Parents need to lead by example. The entire family needs to eat right and be more active.” Remember that what you say isn’t as important as what you do.
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.
Dr. Martin Fried offers these tips to help your child achieve a healthier weight:
- 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, renting exercise DVDs, choose something that you feel you or your child can stick to.
2. Ditch the soda. Substitute water for sugary soda and sport 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.
Remember, weight loss and a healthy lifestyle is a process – it doesn’t happen overnight.
Call 732-682-3425 or contact Dr. Fried in Ocean Township if your child is overweight and you are looking for a solution to help because weight matters.