Parenting and Obesity

Today, approximately 15% of children between the ages of 6 and 19 are either overweight or obese (which is a 10% increase since 1970). In fact, there are now more than 9 million youngsters who are at risk from suffering some impaired life due to high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels or Type 2 Diabetes, as well as having a negative self image of themselves, which will continue as they grow into adulthood.

There have been studies carried out that indicate a child who is obese at the age of 6, will have a 50% chance of becoming obese as an adult. Also, if one or both of the child’s parents are overweight, then the chances increase to 80%. These are very sobering and scary statistics for a parent whose child is overweight.

However, there is good news that, with help from the adults in their lives, these children can be helped. They can be taught healthier behaviors, which relate to both their eating habits and improving the physical activity they do, and this will help them to lose the weight. By helping them become more selective with the types of food that they consume, and increasing the amount of physical activity that they accomplish, it will only produce positive results.