How to Keep Your Child's Weight Down By Angie L Stewart

There's a lot of media coverage recently about growing obesity and this trend is not only in adults, but in children too.

I watched a TV program on the subject last night and was astounded by the volume of children in the UK that are considered overweight or obese - 1/3 of children.

This has prompted me to have a look at some statistics to see how bad the problem really is and also to think about what can be done on an individual level to reduce this problem in your family.

Statistics I found the following graph published by the International Association for the Study of Obesity. You can see how the percentage of children aged 2-15 has increased dramatically in the last few decades. Despite government funded campaigns such as 'Change for Life' and Jamie Oliver's 'School Dinners' combined with repeated media coverage about the strain on the NHS and unpleasant health problems related to obesity, the issue doesn't seem to be improving much!

So what can you do to improve your child's health, weight and future?

1. Walk or Cycle Your Child to School
Too many parents drive their children to school when it's only a 20/30 minute walk. You might think you can't possibly make any extra time in your morning to get out of the house that extra 20minutes early to make the walk there, but it is possible - Give it a go, it's such a good way to start the day for your child/children and it's good for you too.

2. Enroll your Child in an Active Hobby
It's all too easy to have your child sitting in front of the TV after school, many parents are understandably scared to let their children leave the house without supervision, so many kids these days become accustomed to an indoors lifestyle. Let your child choose a new hobby, if it's something they want to do, they're much more likely to stick to it and want to attend regularly. Karate or some form of martial arts is a good physical activity, and it typically only costs £3-5 per session depending on your local area. There's many more out there, so just have a look at what's on in your local area.

3. Incorporate Exercise into Family Time
It really doesn't have to cost the world, a family game of football in the garden or a family bike ride, believe me, most kids will really enjoy it, they love spending time like that with their parents. If you are doing something special, consider an indoor climbing trip, rollerblading or ice-skating for a family treat instead of the cinema or a fast-food meal.

4. Adjust the Lunch Box
Swap the chocolate bar or crisps for an apple or banana or a healthy yogurt. Children don't need a sugary snack with every meal. They may kick up a bit of a fuss initially, but they'll soon get used to their new lunch box menu and stop expecting crisps or chocolate on a daily basis.

5. Healthier Family Meals
We're all guilty of serving up unhealthy grub for our family meals - It's just so quick and easy sometimes to whack a pizza in the oven or grab fish and chips on the way home. You'd be surprised of how many quick and easy healthy options there are though. One of my favourite examples is: oven cooked or steamed fresh fish, baked/new potatoes and broccoli (quick, easy and affordable). Don't forget, your child doesn't necessarily need as big a portion as you!

These are all simple tips that can be followed by anyone and incorporated into everyday life. Give them a go to keep your child a healthy weight now and for life.