Obese Children:
A “Weighty” Problem
Arecent study showed
that most parents
of overweight
children do not realize
their child weighs too
much. Some parents
may think their child will
“grow out of it.”
But the older an obese child is, the more likely that child will stay obese as an adult. For instance, an obese preteen has an 80% risk of growing into an obese adult.
So, talk to your child’s doctor if you think your child weighs too much. In fact, your child may be obese. That means he or she has extra body fat. This can lead to health problems such as:
- diabetes
- high blood pressure
- heart disease.
A doctor can measure your child’s height and weight. The doctor will tell you if your child is in a healthy range.
You can help your child keep off extra pounds. Here are some tips:
- Support healthy eating habits. (See the back page of this newsletter for tips on making healthy lunches.)
- Help your child exercise. Make sure your child is active every day.
- Limit time spent watching TV. Limit video game playing, too.
- Don’t use food as a reward when children behave well.
Follow these tips. If your child is not a healthy weight, you may want to think about a weight control program. Ask your doctor.
