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Health perspective: Parents play big role in preventing childhood obesity

  • Published
  • By Kathy Steinbrecher, Jessica Beck
  • Health and Wellness Center, Red Cross
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a large part of a child's risk for obesity is already established by age two. This means that if a child is overweight or obese by this young age, they are at a higher risk for being obese as an adult. The most common causes of childhood obesity are genetic factors, lack of physical activity, unhealthy eating patterns, or a combination of these factors. Parents can take proactive measures to reduce the risk of their child becoming overweight or obese.

Prevention of pediatric obesity requires family support. Parents play an important role in the family's eating behaviors. Their food preferences, food selection, and their dieting practices are often reflected in their child's eating habits and weight status. Modeling a healthy lifestyle and eating habits have benefits that impact a child's nutritional health for life. Routine family meals provide parents with the opportunity to model good behaviors. Family meals are a good opportunity to talk to a child about healthy eating habits and developing positive attitudes about food. Nutrition knowledge is valuable as the child gets older and able to make informed decisions.

Proper nutrition is vital for the growth and development of a child. A parent's responsibility is to offer healthful foods. Parents provide structure, support and opportunities. Children choose how much and whether to eat from what the parents provide.

"Research shows that you have to offer a child a food an average 10 to 12 times before they like it," said Dr. Scott Gee, a pediatrician specializing in obesity at Kaiser Permanente's Walnut Creek Medical Center. Parents who offer healthful foods create a strong "feeding relationship" with their child. Successful feeding strategies for adopting healthy eating habits include contracts, setting goals, targeting problem behavior and use of incentives other than food rewards.

The best resource for guidance on establishing healthy eating habits is My Plate Kids' Place at www.choosemyplate.gov/kids. My Plate Kids' Place offers science-based advice to help kids and their parents build healthy meals and maintain or achieve a healthy weight. It also provides online resources and tools for children to help them make wise choices in a fun and appealing way.

If you want more information on promoting a healthy lifestyle for your child and family, there is a program for you. 5210 Let's Go is a program at the 375th Medical Group, which focuses on helping kids and families eat healthy and be more active. Classes are offered at the Children Development Center, the Youth Center, and the Medical Group. Call Julie Pena, health promotion educator, at 256-7085 for more information.