6 Offer healthy foods — to the whole family Rather than single out your child with a weight issue, make it easy for everyone to choose healthy snacks instead of chips, cookies, or other processed foods. Offer a variety of foods with meals, such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean proteins like skinless chicken or beans. As many as 1 in 5 kids struggles with their weight, and it can harm their physical and mental well-being. Kids with obesity have a higher risk for health problems, like asthma and depression. They’re also more likely to become adults with obesity, which raises the risk of Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, certain types of cancer, and other problems. And, all too often, bullying and teasing can harm their self-esteem. If you’re parenting a child with weight issues, your child needs your support. You can start with these strategies. Help your child reach Be active together Take family walks. Ride bikes. Shoot some hoops. Keep it fun so that your child will want to keep moving. Focus on health, not looks When supporting healthy changes, emphasize the rewards of being healthy and feeling great. Avoid making comments about appearance, which may increase feelings of guilt or shame. A HEALTHY WEIGHT Skip sugary drinks Cut back on sodas, fruit drinks, and other beverages with sugar added to them. They pack a lot of calories with no nutritional benefit.
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