| It is generally easier for a child to lose weight than an | | | | Video games and watching TV play a large role in the |
| adult for a variety of reasons. The biggest reason | | | | high percentage of overweight children. Rather than |
| being that a child is still growing, still developing and | | | | going outside and playing with their friends, kids are |
| hormones are coursing through their body as they get | | | | staying home sitting in front of the TV or the computer |
| older, making it easier for them to get rid of excess | | | | like zombies, burning few calories and often eating |
| weight. | | | | mindlessly while they are playing/watching. |
| Despite this, there is a growing percentage of | | | | This means in order for a kid to lose weight, they need |
| overweight or obese children, especially in North | | | | to cut down on TV watching & video game |
| America. The good news is, armed with the proper | | | | playing and do things like playing sports, swimming, |
| knowledge children can lose weight & actually | | | | bicycling, even doing chores to burn off calories. |
| enjoy doing it! | | | | You shouldn't have to force your child to go out and |
| The first step for a child to lose weight is to adjust | | | | exercise. Just find something they enjoy doing. It could |
| their eating habits. In general children do not eat well, | | | | be jump rope, throwing a football, shooting hoops, |
| especially if their parents set poor examples. Things | | | | playing street hockey, building forts, having snowball |
| like fast food, fruit juices (except 100% fruit juices), | | | | fights or water fights, the list is endless. There are so |
| sports drinks/energy drinks & high sugar foods like | | | | many ways to get exercise, you don't have to limit it to |
| cookies, cake, etc. should be removed from their | | | | playing a team sport or going out for a run. |
| meals. | | | | Lastly, one of the most essential components of kids |
| Once in a while it's ok to have unhealthy food, but | | | | losing weight is having an example in their parents. |
| most of the time they need to be eating food that is | | | | Many parents do not set good examples for their kids, |
| actually good for them in order to lose weight. | | | | and unfortunately kids do what their parents do. |
| The second step is to get up and exercise. Children | | | | If your child is overweight & you want them to |
| and adults need about 30-60 minutes of exercise a | | | | lose weight, then you need to set an example and |
| day in order to get & stay in good shape. This | | | | clean up your act. Eat proper food, exercise regularly, |
| doesn't have to be all at once, but it is important to | | | | and be supportive of them in their efforts to lose |
| make sure that they are getting daily exercise. | | | | weight. |