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Doing Something About Childhood Obesity

29th January, 2011 - Posted by health news - No Comments

We can help a child avoid potential weight problems. It is more important than ever because the rate of childhood obesity is at an all-time high. Type 2 diabetes, once a weight-related disease seen only in adults, is now appearing in children as young as 4. There must be reasons behind this issue. The problems that a child faces are similar to what an adult faces when challenged by obesity. To fix things, the whole family has to change.
What is reassuring is that heading off childhood obesity is easier than you may thin but while genes play a part in the tendency to put on pounds, diet and lifestyle make a huge difference, and although many adults turn to weight loss plans that promise to show them how to lose weight fast, this is not the answer for kids and the reality is that the earlier you take preventive steps, the better.
If a child is to have a healthy body, there are some things can be done by the adults to help them. During pregnancy, eat nutritious foods yourself. There have been studies that show good eating habits begin before a baby is even born. Also, sticking to a sensible diet during these crucial nine months can help ensure that your baby is born at a healthy weight. There are also a few things that should be done after a baby is born to help them maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle so that they will not be search for ways how to lose weight fast at home in a week when they reach adult hood and start looking in the mirror and try to figure out what they have done to get the body into the shape that they see in the mirror.
Give your baby breatmilk. There are many health benefits that are associated with breastfeeding. A baby who uses formula instead is more likely to struggle with their weight as they grow older. Breast fed children eat the amount that they need and usually no more than that. We all have a natural instinct to stop eating when we are full.
Do not start a solid food diet as early. Many people will find that their child is trying to eat real food within the first four months. The advice of professionals is for a baby to be at least six months before starting a solid diet. There have been studies that have shown a link to overweight children and the time at which they started eating solid food. At four months old a baby is not moving around too much and can not use the extra calories that are in solid foods.
Be mindful of mealtime signals. Back off from feeding if your gives off signals that he or she does not want to eat any more. It is not a good thing to teach your child to finish something when they are already full.
Give your baby a lot of different choices. A wide variety of foods will be very beneficial to your child and is easy to do. Food preferences are formed in the first few years. An infant is much more likely to eat a wide variety of foods later in life if they are taught how to do it at an early age.
Adults must teach their kids how to make the right choices at a young age. Infants do not have the ability to control their diet and will not do what they do not know how to do. It is the parents who will control how well a child learns that lesson. It is one way to prevent a child from struggling with their weight.