Overweight Children—What Part do the Parents Play?

It takes two things to maintain a healthy body. They are exercise and proper nutrition. Of children 6 years and older, 15% are obese. This number has tripled since the 1970s. You, as the parent, play a big role in your child's weight. Children do not usually prepare their own food. They eat what is served to them and what is made available to them for snacks.

In most cases, overweight children do not eat the right foods and many of them eat too much. Overeating is easy to do. Everywhere you look, the portion sizes are out of control and the foods are not necessarily nutritious. There are fast food restaurants on every corner and junk food machines in the schools. It’s no wonder this country has a weight problem.

Even though society does not make it easy for a person to eat healthy, it is still all about choices. If a 12 year old girl that weighs 90 pounds, goes to McDonald's and orders a Big Mac, a large order of French fries and a large Coke, her meal will consist of 1430 calories and 50 grams of fat. This is 76% of the calories and 94% of the fat she should consume daily.

Now, let's see how things change if she makes some different choices. Let's see what happens if the same girl chooses a McGrill Chicken Sandwich, a side salad with low-calorie dressing and a medium Diet Coke. She will have consumed 440 calories and 20 grams of fat. This is 23% of her daily calorie requirements and 31% of her daily fat requirements.

The second scenario is much healthier than the first and is within in the range that a meal should be for a child that age. If you plan properly and make good choices you can eat healthy no matter where you eat.

You, as a parent, have control over what your child eats. Helping your child develop healthy habits is the best thing you can do for them. Children tend to develop the same habits their parents have, so if you eat healthy there is a good chance your child will follow your example. You are the best chance your child has of living a healthy life style.

Marjorie Salada is the owner of Weight Loss 3000, a website that contains information on weight loss, exercise, weight loss surgery and living a healthy lifestyle.