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Obesity Insights
7 (Sometimes Surprising) Secrets for Stopping Childhood Obesity
Slimdown Secret No. 5
Let kids take control in the kitchen. Children should be active participants, not passive recipients, in all aspects of mealtime. Don't fill your child's plate for her. Again, kids need to learn self-regulation; giving them control over how much they eat is better for them in the long run. Research reveals that children may eat up to 25 percent less when they serve themselves at meals. Also, it's a good idea to get your kids involved in food preparation. When children help plan menus and prepare meals, they are much more likely to be willing to try new (i.e., nutritious) foods. This is especially important for overweight children, as it gives them an opportunity to "take charge" of their relationship with food. Overcoming Childhood Obesity includes tips for how kids of all ages can help out in the kitchen and offers a variety of recipes your family can prepare together. Slimdown Secret No. 6
Make exercise a must – for everyone. Everyone talks about the roadblocks: hundreds of cable channels, video games, the Internet. But too few parents do anything about it. It's up to you to turn off the tube and shut down the computer and exercise as a family. (That's right, you have to get off the couch, too!) This could mean walking around the block, working in the garden, playing at the park, going on a weekend hike. "Exercise needs to be fun, not reminiscent of a military drill," says Shanley. "The good news is that what's fun for kids is usually fun for adults, too. And going on a family bike ride is certainly a better way to connect emotioally than sitting around in front of the TV."
