Here are five tips that can help your overweight kids lose weight and be healthier.
1. Parents – Children resemble their parents. Therefore, your health and weight have a direct effect on your child. If one of their parents is overweight, the children have a 25% chance of being overweight. This probability increases to 50% if both parents are overweight.
2. Encouragement: Nobody likes to be ridiculed or made fun of. Talk to your child with compassion. You should encourage him to lose weight and not demand it of the child. You should keep your child’s attention on the healthy foods that he likes and gradually reduce the unhealthy ones. For example, you can encourage him to eat fruit salad instead of ice cream.
3. Eat healthy together: You can change your whole family’s diet to a healthy one. Children prefer to have frequent healthy meals with their family than eating alone. You should also keep all high-calorie items away and stock your fridge with fresh fruit, nuts and low-fat cheese in case your child wakes up for a midnight snack.
4. Eat a healthy breakfast: You should eat a breakfast with foods that are high in protein, starch and low in fat. Weight loss is much more difficult for a child who skips breakfast as their metabolism slows.
5. Be physically active as a family: Take some time to be physically active with your child. You can go for a half hour walk with him at night or play at night. You can also sign your child up for any sports or other activities that they can enjoy while burning calories.