Can Parents Minimize the Risk of Weight Problems in Kids?

In response to increased government awareness of childhood obesity, UK schools plan on implementing a program to measure the height and weight all primary age school children between the ages of 4-5, and repeating the process again when the children leave for secondary education at ages 10-11. This type of program is presently done in the United States, but does it work?

There are concerns that overweight children may experience bullying in addition to being stigmatized. There are also concerns that the increased scrutiny may lead to some children developing eating disorders. Many people are of the opinion that it’s the parents responsibility to monitor their children’s weight, and that the funds set aside for this program could be put to better use with other programs.

So what can parents do to help their children maintain a healthy weight?

It’s essential for parents to take the feelings of their children seriously. If they are experiencing bullying at school, parents will only add to the problem by nagging about weight issues at home, which will have the effect of increasing the child’s perception of failure and isolation.

Instead, parents could set a good example by cooking healthy meals, and refrain from indulging in junk food themselves. Although it is important to allow the occasional treat, as being too strict will only cause problems. If the entire family works together to improve everyone’s eating habits, then children won’t feel singled out and picked on.

But the focus shouldn’t be limited to food, as exercise is also an important component in maintaining a healthy weight. While food is an essential part of life, making it the sole topic of discussion will only be counterproductive and encourage resistance. Being continuously reprimanded because of their weight and overeating increases the likelihood of developing a negative attitude concerning food.

It’s far more productive to encourage activities in which your child finds pleasure, which will have the effect of lowering their overall stress level and make implementing these changes more effective.

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