How Can Overweight and Obesity Be Prevented?
Staying at a healthy weight and preventing
overweight and obesity can be achieved through living a healthy lifestyle.
Because lifetime habits begin in childhood, its important for parents and
families to create habits that encourage healthy food choices and physical
activity early in life.
- Follow a healthy eating plan. Make healthful food
choices, keep your and your familys calorie needs in mind, and focus on
the balance of energy IN and energy OUT.
- Focus on portion size. Watch the size of portions
in fast food and other restaurants. The portions served are often enough for
two or three people. Childrens portion sizes should be smaller than those
for adults. Cutting back on portion size is a sure way to help keep energy IN
and energy OUT in balance.
- Be active. Make personal and family time active.
Find activities that everyone will enjoy. For example, go for a brisk walk,
bike or rollerblade, or train together for a walk or run.
- Reduce screen time. Limit the use of TVs,
computers, DVDs, and video games, because they crowd out time for physical
activity. Health experts recommend 2 hours or less a day of screen time
thats not work- or homework-related.
- Keep track of weight and other measurements.
Monitor your weight, body mass index, and waist circumference on a regular
basis. Also, keep track of your childrens growth.
Four Institutes (led by the National Heart, Lung,
and Blood Institute) from the National Institutes of Health have come together
to promote
We
Can!Ways to Enhance Childrens Activity & Nutrition.
We Can! is a national education program designed for parents and
caregivers to help children 8 to 13 years old stay at a healthy weight.
The evidence-based program offers parents and
families tips and fun activities to encourage healthy eating, increase physical
activity, and reduce time spent being inactive. Currently, more than 140
communities around the country are participating in We Can! programs
for parents and youth. These community groups include hospitals, health
departments, clinics, faith-based organizations, YMCAs, schools, and
more. |