Helping kids maintain a healthy weight

If you're a parent, or if you plan on being a parent, read this article: http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/2007/08/31/how-to-win-the-weight-battle.html?PageNr=1

It's full of helpful information on what to do to help kids maintain a healthy weight: set a positive example, develop healthy family habits, don't talk about weight issues, help kids learn that their self-worth is more than their outward appearance, etc.

Several of my clients have taken these ideas to heart, and are making great progress in helping their kids learn healthier eating and activity habits. The results apply to everyone in the family, kids and parents alike. Setting limits for after school snacks for the kids means that the adults also choose healthier snacks. Wanting your kids to eat more fruit for desserts means the entire family enjoys fruit more often. Incorporating non-food activities into family time, such as taking a walk, throwing a frisbee, or playing board games keeps everybody occupied and reinforces the idea that eating is not a hobby.

If all parents would read this article and make only one or two changes in their families lives, we'd go a long way toward helping our kids maintain a healthy weight, which translates into a longer, healthier life.