The key to combating juvenile obesity lies with parents, the American Heart Association says. The AHA released a scientific statement in its most recent issue of "Circulation" journal. Here are tips for parents to curb weight problems in kids, based on that report.
* According to the American Association of Adolescent and Pediatric Psychiatry, 33 percent of kids and teens in the U.S. are overweight and nearly 20 percent are clinically obese.
* The key message in the AHA statement is parents and caregivers need to be on board with whatever treatment, diet or program that doctors use with children. If parents are included on decision-making and involved in treatment, kids stand a better chance to succeed at maintaining a healthy weight.
* Nagging kids about weight loss, diet slip-ups or failing to lose weight as fast enough is counter-productive. The AAACP lists depression, stress, low self-esteem and problems with parents as some of the leading causes of childhood obesity.
* Statement author Myles S. Faith, a nutrition specialist with the University of North Carolina, says it's important for parents to lead by example in matters of healthy eating, exercise and weight loss. Parents who maintain healthy eating and exercise habits help their children to do likewise.
* Faith recommends families develop weight-reduction goals and strategies. They should identify specific goals such as limiting TV and screen time, and engaging in fitness activities together.
* When children have setbacks, parents should help them identify where they made their mistakes and how to correct them in future weight-loss efforts.
* Rewarding children from making and keeping weight loss goals is encouraged, but food should never be used as positive reinforcement.
* Faith recommends simple steps like gradually eliminating the fatty, sugary snack foods and replacing them with fresh fruit. Limiting food choices and reducing temptation makes weight loss easier for kids.
* Parents should help kids keep a food journal and track goals. The AHA hasn't established how useful Internet or cellphone fitness and weight-loss apps are for individual age groups but suggests those tools as a possibility.
Marilisa Kinney Sachteleben writes about parenting from 23 years raising four children and 25 years teaching K-8, special needs, adult education and home-school.
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