What parents can do to help their child maintain a healthy weight
Helping a child deal with a weight issue, while avoiding negativity about their body image, can be challenging, one expert says.
Obesity affects 20% of American children.
Dr. Marsha Novick, medical director of the Healthy Weight Program for Children and Teens at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital, in Hershey, Pennsylvania, offered suggestions for parents helping their child maintain a healthy weight.
“Parents should see obesity as a health or medical problem, rather than a willpower issue,” Novick said. “Obesity is not their child’s fault — readily available ultra-processed foods are the problem.
The reward centers in the human brain are stimulated by processed foods, stoking good feelings and cravings.”
Parents can help by limiting access to these types of foods. They can use the 5-2-1-0 rule from the American Academy of Pediatrics as a guide — five servings of fruits and vegetables a day, two hours or less of screen time a day, one hour of physical activity or more a day, and zero sugar-sweetened beverages.
Children struggling with obesity are at risk for developing mental health issues like depression, anxiety and mood disorders, as well as medical problems including heart disease, diabetes and cancer.
Socioeconomic status can contribute to obesity, as studies have shown that kids in minority communities and kids who live with food insecurity face an increased risk of obesity.
Talk to your child’s primary care provider if you notice your child has trouble keeping up with other kids or if you see them struggle with mental health issues. Watch for headaches, constipation, snoring and heartburn, Novick said.