6 Expert Tips on How to Pass Healthy Eating Habits to Children to Prevent Obesity

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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the percentage of obese children and adolescents in the United States has more than tripled since 1970. Today, about one in five children ages 6 to 19 are obese, and this figure does not include children who are considered simply overweight and not obese.

According to Dr. Alka Sood, a family physician with Penn State Health Medical Group – Park Avenue at State College, obese children can cope with many social and health problems by growing up.

"Obese children are more likely than their classmates to be teased or intimidated and to suffer from low self-esteem, depression," said Sood. "They are at greater risk to suffer from other chronic health problems such as asthma, sleep apnea, bone and joint problems and type 2 diabetes and are more likely to be obese at the same time. 39, adulthood. "

Therefore, reducing the risk of childhood obesity is an important issue for improving the health and happiness of the child.Here, Dr. Sood, with Kara Shifler Bowers, registered dietitian and project manager for the Penn State PRO Wellness Center, offers expert advice on how parents can help their children adopt healthy habits early on

weight with children

Bowers advises parents of 39 go ahead and make small changes around the house instead of discussing weight and health with the child directly

. "Instead, implement an easy change like keeping a bowl of fruit available.A change at a time is more sustainable than a complete overhaul of the lifestyle."

Help the Children to make healthy food choices

Consumers control 72% of what families eat.Make good habits for children.Avoid buying unhealthy snacks and sugary drinks, and if you do, keep them out of the sight of children, try to preserve these foods for parties and celebrations.

Put Healthy Food at Your Service

If Kids Have Easy Access to healthy foods, they will be more likely to eat them Keep healthy snacks in the kitchen, such as low-sugar Greek yogurt, nut butters, whole grains like plain popcorn and dips like hummus. Keep a large, attractive bowl of fruit available for easy access and try chopping the vegetables and leaving them in the fridge so that they are ready to eat.

Involving Children

Enable children to participate in meal planning. Teach them the food they eat, let them choose fruits and vegetables for side dishes and let them participate in cooking and cooking foods so that they can enjoy of preparation and help them to adopt a healthy attitude.

Family Dinner

Recent studies have shown that sitting together to eat as many meals as possible, away from television, can help reduce childhood obesity . Not only does this give time together as a family, but parents can use it as an opportunity to make healthy and nutritious food choices, making it more likely that children will make similar choices.

Be Patient

Bowers also advises to be patient because everyone in the family is gradually learning to make better food choices.

"Do not underestimate the power of small changes that progress over time," said Bowers. "All it takes is a step to start the process." JB

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