In Part 1 we looked at the worrying increase in the number of overweight and obese children in the Western world, examined the possible reasons for this increase, and reminded ourselves that there is no magic formula or instant solution. But there are many ways a parent can encourage weight loss in children, which we discuss below and in Parts 3, 4 and 5. Make weight loss a family affair The most successful approach is to make your childs weight loss a family affair. That doesnt mean that you should single out your child and make the whole family responsible for making sure that they stick to a diet. It does mean that the whole family should join in, eating the same healthier foods, increasing their activity levels, and generally improving their lifestyle along with the overweight child. Obviously this is going to be easier to carry off if your children are young. You can be a direct influence on young children as you are the one buying, preparing, and serving the food, and providing the activities! Brainwash younger children while you can! Young children are very susceptible to their parents attitudes and absorb much of their wisdom willingly! If you casually mention the chemicals and additives in a packet of crisps or a fizzy drink, and read out the ingredients (or better yet, get your child to read or even write them out), you can start to influence the way that children think about food at an early age. Ask your child whether they would prefer to drink a fizzy apple-flavored drink, or eat an apple off the tree. Compare the look and the smell of the two options. Read out that list of chemicals, while polishing the apple to a shine. Make sure that you choose the apple! Most kids arent stupid and, if left entirely to their own devices, will gravitate to the real food. Keep up the subtle brainwashing and you will find that children choose the healthier options of their own accord, without feeling like they are missing out at all, and then you have won half the battle! Encourage your children to see beyond the advertising and packaging Examine foods often. Buy, and eat, the odd candy bar and then see if you can work out, with your child, what was in it. Can they recognise any part of that candy bar as real food? What does it smell like? Does it smell better before or after you eat it? What are the ingredients? How processed are they? Then look at a cherry, or grape, or even a raisin. Ask questions. Do I know what is in this? Which is more real? Which is more natural? Which fills me up more? Which is better for me? Which leaves a better taste in my mouth? Sit down with your kids in front of the television and watch a load of advertisements together. Ask the kids to choose a food product which they think is designed especially for them, and which they will enjoy. Go out and buy it. Examine it. Subject it to the tests outlined above. Ask questions about the advertising. Why do companies advertise? What are they trying to achieve? Who are they advertising for? Do the advertisements help you? Do they serve any purpose? Even the youngest children will be able to participate in this sort of discussion with help, and becoming resistant to advertising is a very useful lesson to learn young! Parts 3, 4 and 5 provide many more ideas, tips and tactics for tackling the issues an overweight child faces and encouraging gentle and effective weight loss. |
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