Preventing Childhood Obesity: 5 Things Families Can Do
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Childhood obesity is a complex disease with many contributing factors, on including genetics, eating patterns, physical activity levels, and sleep routines. About 1 in 5 American children has obesity. Compared to children with healthy weight, children with obesity are at a higher risk for asthma, sleep apnea, bone and joint problems, type 2 diabetes, and risk factors for heart disease such as high blood pressure. Obesity also has an impact on medical costs. Compared to children with healthy weight, annual total medical expenditures for children with severe obesity were $909 higher.
Adults with obesity have higher risks for stroke, many types of cancer, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, premature death, and mental illness, such as clinical depression and anxiety. Children with obesity are more likely to have obesity as adults. Conditions where we live, learn, work, and play can make healthy eating and getting enough physical activity difficult if these conditions do not support health. Though there is no one solution to addressing obesity, there are many ways parents and caregivers can help children have a healthy weight and set up lifelong healthy habits at home.
Support Obesity Prevention in Early Care and Education Settings Implementing Obesity Prevention Standards
About 3 in 5 children birth through age 5 who are not yet in kindergarten are in a nonparental care arrangement at least once a week. The number of children in Early Care and Education (ECE) settings makes it one of the best places outside the home to help young children build a foundation for healthy living. High-quality ECE programming can have a positive impact on a child’s social-emotional wellbeing, educational achievement, health, and socioeconomic outcomes later in life.
Look for ECE settings supporting healthy infant feeding, healthy eating, physical activity, and screen time limits. When looking for ECE programs for your child, ask about policies and practices related to breastfeeding and feeding of breast milk to infants, nutrition standards in food served at the setting, access to outdoor physical activity during the day, and how much time the child will spend daily in front of a screen.
Model a Healthy Eating Pattern
Offer a variety of fruits and vegetables throughout the day. Frozen and canned fruits and vegetables are often less expensive than fresh and still good for you.
Look for low sodium or no salt added vegetables and fruits packed in 100% fruit juice. Adopting healthy eating patterns as a family helps children reach and maintain a healthy weight as they age. Eating a variety of vegetables and fruits, whole grains, lean protein foods, and low-fat and fat-free dairy products follows nutrition guidelines and sets your family up for optimal health.
Help kids rethink their drink by replacing sugary drinks, such as soda, fruit drinks, and flavored milk, with water, 100% juice, or plain low-fat milk.
Move More as a Family
Physically active youth have stronger muscles and bones, better cardiovascular fitness, and lower body fat than those who are inactive. Children aged 3–5 years should be physically active throughout the day. Children aged 6–17 years need at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day.
Help your children move more and meet the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans [PDF-422KB] by making it a family affair. Walking the family pet before and after school, riding bikes, and having races in the yard all count toward physical activity. Active chores, such as washing the car, vacuuming a room, or raking leaves, also count.
Set Consistent Sleep Routines
Good sleep helps prevent type 2 diabetes, obesity, injuries, and problems with attention and behavior. Children who don’t get enough sleep are at risk for unhealthy weight gain. Researchers are still trying to learn how sleep is linked to weight gain. Some reasons might include causing a child to eat more or to be less physical active because of to lack of energy.
Preschoolers need 11–13 hours of sleep per day, including naps. Children 6–12 years old need 9–12 hours of uninterrupted sleep a night, and youth 13–18 need 8–10 hours. Sticking to a consistent sleep schedule, including on weekends, can help children sleep better.
Replace Screen Time with Family Time
During childhood, too much screen time can lead to poor sleep, weight gain, lower grades in school, and poor mental health. Reducing screen time can free up time for family activities and can remove cues to eat unhealthy food.
Turning screens off an hour before bed and removing screens from children’s bedrooms can help reduce screen time and improve sleep. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends creating a family media plan with examples of how to reduce screen time.
If you are concerned about your child’s weight, talk with their health care provider. They can assess the health risks related to excess weight. If your child has overweight or obesity, your health care provider may refer you to a Family Healthy Weight Program (FHWP). FHWPs are comprehensive, family-based lifestyle change programs to help children who are overweight or who have obesity make progress toward a healthier weight through positive behavior changes.
