How To Deal With Your Child's Weight Issue
Each time you bring your child to a pediatrician, he or she will weigh your child. This is done to make sure the child is developing properly, and it can also help reveal issues with obesity. If your child is severely overweight, your pediatrician might discuss this issue with you. The goals are to help you find out why your child is overweight and to find ways to help the child lose the extra weight he or she is carrying around.
Why is the child overweight?
Children and adults that struggle with weight issues can have this problem for several reasons. In many cases, children can be overweight from the environment they live in and their eating habits. There are also times when children are overweight simply from their genes and chemical makeup. In rare cases, being obese may be due to some type of medical condition.
The pediatrician might talk to you about the child's habits to find out if this is the cause. If you do not believe that this is what has caused this problem, the doctor may suggest running blood work on the child to see if there is a medical problem.
What risks does this present?
When kids are overweight, they have a greater chance of being overweight as adults. Obesity is also something that can be embarrassing for kids, and it may even take the child's motivation away. The child may not want to participate in activities with other kids, and he or she may become distant from friends. In addition, obesity is not good for the child's health. Obesity can lead to many problems, including heart issues and diabetes.
What can you do to help your child lose weight?
If you want to help your child lose weight, you may want to turn this effort into an activity the entire family takes part in. This might involve eliminating sugary, fatty snacks from your home, and it may require learning how to prepare healthier meals. You may also want to get rid of the electronics in the home and cancel your cable subscription for a while. You could also start exercising as a family, even if it is just a 10-minute walk each morning. Each of these changes could make a difference in your child's weight and health.
If you are concerned about your child's weight and do not know where to begin helping him or her, contact one of your local pediatricians to discuss your options.
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