Health Risks of Chronic Overweight
Being overweight can lead to multiple health risks for anyone but vulnerability to disease increases with the length of time the overweight condition exists. For this reason, children who are overweight may face at an earlier age the potential for “adult” disorders that can threaten their health and the quality of their lives. Being overweight has been linked to * Heart Disease * Diabetes * Asthma * Osteoarthritis * High Blood Pressure * Poor Body Image and Low Self-esteem Habits learned in childhood often set the stage for health status in adult life. The best way to teach children healthy habits is by example. Make physical activity a routine in your family’s life. Share the tasks of meal planning, shopping and cooking while encouraging “heart healthy” food choices. Including everyone in these activities produces family ownership of good health habits.
How to Talk to Your Kids About Weight
When talking to children and adolescents about their weight, it is important to remember how sensitive they are about their appearance. Maintaining a child’s self-esteem is as important as promoting a healthy weight. The following are suggestions for communicating with your child or teen about this important subject:
Always give love and support. Children and teens need to know they are loved and beautiful no matter what their size or appearance.
Be positive. A child should feel good about improving his or her diet and physical activity. Always praise behaviors, traits and accomplishments that make you and your child proud.
Avoid criticism. It can make children and teens defensive about their weight and less likely to succeed. Never tell a child that he or she is fat or obese.
Work together as a family. The home environment is one of the strongest influences on behavior. Discuss how family members can work as a team to decrease the availability of high calorie foods and increase physical activity.
Be honest about yourself. If your own weight is less that perfect, admit it. Let your kids know that, as they’re working to improve their health, you’re working with them to improve yours.
Make it fun. Teach children and teens that eating lower calorie foods is a pleasure, not a punishment. Promote physical activity in ways that are fun. These can be group or family activities but also solo activities such as bike riding and walking.
Teach self-monitoring. Keeping track in a journal or diary of foods eaten and physical activity done each day can improve a child’s awareness of his or her habits and what is influencing them. Self-monitoring also can foster confidence and self-motivation.
[Recommendations from Dr. Stephen Daniels, chairman of the American Heart Association’s Council on Cardiovascular Disease in the Young.]