An obese child is often the butt of jokes in the playground. While treating child obesity it is important to provide the child with positive reinforcement. Do teach the child how to turn negative remarks into positive statements to help keep up his self esteem.
Children should be encouraged to keep a ‘diet diary’ which is a record of all the food that they consume.
Child obesity is on the increase and there is a growing degree of alarm about the increasing prevalence of overweight among children.
Obesity can have an immediate negative impact on a child.
Prevention of child obesity is easier than treatment.
Treatment plans for child obesity are therefore a good idea. Treatment of child obesity rarely has weight loss as a goal. The aim in treating child obesity is to slow down the rate of weight gain and gradually bring the child to his or her ideal weight.
Lack of physical activity is another reason for child obesity. Children tend to watch a lot of TV and this cuts into time that should be spent in physical activity. TV viewing also goes hand in hand with consumption of high calorie junk food.
Early intervention for treatment of obesity in a child is important.
Child obesity is caused when a child eats more than the body consumes. Excessive intake of fast food and colas are often responsible for the imbalance between energy input and output.
Physical activity can be worked in as a family event. Going for a walk with the family or roller balding with dad will be seen by the obese child as a family outing rather than a chore. It will also increase family bonding.
Small simple steps can be effective in curbing child obesity. The amount of fatty foods in the house should be limited, all meals should be eaten at the dinner table at designated times and if the child is not hungry he or she should not be forced to finish the entire meal. A few servings of fruit and green vegetables too must be introduced in the child’s diet.
A child can modify behavior patterns more rapidly and easily than an adult.
In treatment of child obesity it helps to involve children in their treatment. Children should be encouraged to ask questions. Simple words can be used to explain why they need to follow a diet plan and increase physical movement.
The other obvious thing to do to treat child obesity is to reduce calorific intake of the child. Children should not be subject to fasting or extreme calorie reduction. A well balanced diet with less fat content is the best diet for an obese child.