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Does My Lifestyle As A Parent Affect My Childs Health And Eating Habits?

There appears to be an inverse correlation between the use of low fat and fat- free foods, encouraging kids to diet, skip meals and/or rely on meal substitutes like Power Bars, and overweight kids. Did you know that overweight and dieting children are more likely to become overweight adults?

Though obesity is in part genetically based and has been proven to be the cause of many childhood diseases, there is a great deal parents can do to prevent it. The formula is, oddly, non-formulaic. The answer lies in healthy eating alongside a healthy exercise lifestyle; as a society, we appear to have forgotten what healthy eating and exercise is all about.

The "Skinny" in Childhood Obesity

As I see it, childhood obesity comes of genetic predispositions that are triggered and exacerbated by a dysfunctional lifestyle and parental attitudes about food and eating. Any of these factors alone will not lead to obesity. 
 

• Parents are less at home these days, leaving kids to fend for themselves for snacks and meals. Only 50% of American families eat dinners together anymore.

• What is more, we are a nation of convenience eaters, of fast -food eaters, with the latter becoming increasingly available and affordable.

• We are an immoderate society, where extreme and imbalanced eating has become the norm.

We are a dieting society. Diets are the worst way to lose weight. In 95% of cases, the total amount of weight lost is regained and then some, 1-5 years post -diet. Kids who restrict food, are more likely to become obese adults.

What is wrong is when a child turns to food and eating to somehow effect or camouflage feelings and resolve emotional problems. In such cases, eating patterns become pseudo-solutions for real problems, creating more problems, not less.

If parents feel concerned about a child's eating lifestyle or weight, it is best to consult a physician initially, to rule out organically based precipitants. Following that,

• It is for parents to step in to encourage their child to recognize, define and resolve underlying emotional issues that may be driving the dysfunctional behaviors in an effort to resolve problems at their source.

• It is for parents to supply healthful meals regularly for the child, and then to sit down to eat these meals together with the child, listening to thoughts and feelings, at the same time as observing eating behaviors.

• It is for parents to role model a healthy eating and exercise lifestyle for the child.

• Beyond that, parents should engage with their child in activities, sports, and healthful exercise. Positive parental attention creates positive self-esteem. Obesity and good self-esteem are an unlikely duo.

Diet For Children (6 - 18 Years)

School children will have a good appetite but their food should be selected nutritiously. During 6 to 12 years the rate of growth in children slows down and body changes occur gradually. This period of life in general is known as the latent period of growth. This is applicable mainly for boys. In girls prepubertal acceleration of growth take place during later half of this period. During this stage girls usually outgrow boys. The body requirements of calories and protein are increased steadily. Requirements of the nutrients of children are increased from 7 - 12 years, as there is gradual increase in need because reserves are being laid down for the demands of the approaching adolescent period. The increased requirements of protein would meet demands of the growth. Girls require more protein between 10 - 12 than boys do, since they are approaching menarche early. During 10 - 12 years, children do require more calcium than adults to meet demand for skeletal growth.

Breakfast is particularly important for a school child. This age group has a tendency to skip breakfast, which is bad. This will make them weak, tried, lethargic and develop lack of concentration. A cereal, milk, and fruit will make a good and quick breakfast. Packed lunches should be nutritiously adequate. Dinner is a good time to balance calories at the end of the day. Iron is needed for hemoglobin synthesis necessitated by the considerable expansion of blood volume and for myoglobin needed for muscle growth.

Parents have a big role in ensuring what choices their kids grow up to make, set an example for them, teach them good habits and enforce the value of healthy eating.