Treating Childhood Obesity

Everyone has experiences and memories of just how difficult childhood can be. When those memories are coupled with the news of rising childhood obesity levels, it only makes sense that any parent would want to do what they can to prevent this from happening to their child. Treating childhood obesity is possible, though it can often require an almost iron will on the part of a parent and the careful guidance of a doctor. Here are a few guidelines that you can use to get started.

• http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/zucchini-bread-recipe/index.html Typically speaking, weight loss programs aren't recommended for anyone under the age of seven years old. Furthermore, any specific treatment plans (and possible medication) will largely depend on the age of the child and the advise of a physician.
• Promote activity. One of the easiest ways to help treat childhood obesity is to promote a more active lifestyle for your child. This means that you have the child do some type of physically strenuous activity for a little while each day. While it doesn't necessarily need to be exercise, it does need to be some kind of activity that will make the child build at least a light sweat.
• Limit sweets. Sweets of all sorts, particularly sweetened drinks (including some juices) can have a potentially detrimental effect on a child's weight. Drinks and other items that have high sweet contents (such as candy) typically have little to no nutritional value, and as such are not beneficial to a child. This doesn't mean that you have to prohibit them, simply make them a reward or something that is special or rare. If you do prohibit them totally, you run the risk of making your child desire the forbidden, after all many children have a tendency to want what they can't have.
• More produce. Promote the idea of having more fruit and vegetables as part of your family's regular diet. Furthermore, try to encourage the use of produce as a snack instead of going with a prepackaged snack food or similar item. If you can go natural in your food and snack choices, you will also be promoting a healthier lifestyle all around.

One thing that you need to keep in mind before you begin treating a possible case of childhood obesity. While it is important to always have a doctors' supervision when starting a weight loss program, when dealing with children it is vitally important. If you don't have the supervision of a doctor, you can easily end up causing more damage to your child.