Remember that obesity doesn’t make a child cute and cuddly. It is considered by most health organizations as a disease that should be taken seriously. While many American parents are aware of the dangers of letting a child become too fat, only quite a few are able to take a pro-active role in their child’s eating habits and lifestyle choices.

Many studies have concluded that parental guidance is central in the prevention of obesity in children. Poor diet and sedentary lifestyle are the two main causes of childhood obesity. A recent study has shown that simple lifestyle choices like eating evening meals as a family at least 5 times a week, sleeping for at least 10.5 hours a day and spending less than 2 hours watching television on weekdays can lower the risk of developing obesity. Below are some helpful tips you might want to consider:

Breastfeed your child. Some studies have shown that breastfeeding may actually help prevent obesity in children. It is not yet completely known why this happens but a recent paper published in the American Journal of Human Biology concluded that breastfed babies will have 40 percent less chance of being extremely overweight as a teenager.

Get started on a healthy diet. Be a good example to your child and get started on a healthy diet as a family. Include more whole grains, vegetables, fruits and lean meat to your diet and teach your child how to prepare delicious but healthy snacks.

Cut down on sweets and junk food. We don’t want to go overboard and say you should eliminate junk foods and sweets completely because your child might rebel and cheat by overeating junk stuff behind your back. Instead, just make sure they control their intake.

Be positive and encourage your child. Don’t even try to discourage your child from overeating by calling him or her “fat” or “ugly.” Regardless of your child’s current weight, approach the challenge positively. Be a listener, lend a helping hand and assure your child that you will be there every step of the way.

Encourage your child to be active. Exercise regularly as a family. In addition, you can encourage your child to join friends or clubs who engage in sports or outdoor activities such as camping and hiking. Such activities are not only fun, they offer a chance for your child to develop his or her social skills as well.

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