Childhood obesity has become a serious health problem in the United States. It is one of the easiest medical conditions to recognize, but the most difficult to treat. The best way to treat obesity in your child is to prevent it.
Starting at age 3 years, we screen all children, regardless of their size, at each well child visit. Body Mass Index (BMI) is a screening tool that uses your child’s height and weight to give us an idea of his/her risk for becoming overweight. Click here to check your child's BMI.
If you are concerned about your child's weight please schedule an appointment so we can discuss an individual plan that will fit you and your family's lifestyle.
Here are some tips for keeping your child healthy!
Make healthy beverage choices, such as water, low fat milk, sugar-free and non-carbonated drinks. Limit juice to 4-6 ounces/day.
Limit fast food meals to less than once/week and resist the urge to “supersize”. Instead of ordering french fries, bring a piece of fruit from home. Try a grilled chicken sandwich without mayo instead of a cheeseburger.
Plan for 3 meals/day and 1 healthy snack.
Encourage your child to eat breakfast.
Offer your child a variety of foods with proper portion sizes.
Stock your kitchen with healthful food choices (if it’s not in the house, they won’t eat it!)
Pack your child’s lunch.
Decrease TV, video game and computer time. No more than 1-2 hours of media time per day is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Be physically active as a family.
Incorporate physical activity into your child’s daily routine (ex: walking the family dog, playing outside for 30 minutes before homework, etc.)
Eat meals as a family without the TV.
Don’t use food as a reward (or a punishment) for your child.
