Obesity has been receiving a lot of media attention recently with statistics showing that the problem is increasing at an alarming rate. Historically obesity has been exclusively seen as a problem of adults, becoming more prevalent with advancing age, however with children’s lifestyles becoming less and less active due to a number of factors, obesity in children is also on the rise. There have always been fat children but they were always an exception to the norm.

Excessive body weight is associated with many diseases, particularly cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus type 2, obstructive sleep apnea, certain types of cancer, and osteoarthritis.[4] As a result, obesity has been found to reduce life expectancy.[4] A combination of excessive caloric intake, lack of physical activity, and genetic susceptibility is thought to explain most cases of obesity, with a limited number of cases due solely to genetics, medical reasons, or psychiatric illness.

A diet is something negative that makes children feel focused on their size rather than their health. Diet does not mean healthy it means getting thin any way possible, which is exactly the opposite of what we want our kids to believe. What you teach your kids when they are young about eating habits is the seed you plant for their future and giving our children good health.

Diet for Obese Children:

Preparing and cooking meals as a family has many benefits. Your children will learn about proper nutrition, they will be directly involved in the creation of a meal, and studies have shown that children are more apt to eat their entire dinner vegetables and all. This, of course, means they are eating healthier. They are also benefiting from the kitchen experience and hopefully learning a skill that they will utilize for the rest of their lives.

• Kids need to learn about food and health so they can make informed choices.

• Decrease high-fat/high-calorie foods offered in school cafeterias and vending machines; replace with fruit, yogurt, low-fat popcorn and other healthier snacks and foods.

• No more fast food in schools (except special events - one time per month).

• School Boards should agree to implement a plan to gradually increase meaningful physical activity in K-12 (with an emphasis in elementary schools) and STOP altogether offering/making available unhealthy, high-fat, high-sugar foods on campus.

Include grated veggies into meatloaf and soups. Puree lots of veggies into spaghetti sauce, as long as it's still red they will eat it.

When children are old enough to eat raw vegetables, and are practicing addition and subtraction, use carrots or other vegetables to help them count. Have them eat one, and they have one less, have them eat three, and they have three less.

If possible, have young children participate in growing a colorful vegetable garden. Children love to eat what they grow.

Make eating fun by noting that broccoli looks like trees, mashed potatoes are like mountains, etc.

Make food faces. Tortilla or pita bread-head, bell pepper strips-mouth, grated cheese-hair mushroom nose ,orange slice

If your child is overweight don't belittle, lecture or bribe them to lose weight. Discuss this calmly with them and make a plan together, with your doctor, about how to help in the best way. Don't single them out but make this a family plan that you can all benefit from. Most authorities believe that children shouldn't diet. They should be encouraged to eat healthier and exercise more so that their height catches up to their weight.

Read About Fast Weight Loss also Read about Child Obesity and Diet for Obese Children

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