Children Obesity

You're the mom, you have to force him to get active. I have to push my daughter to go to swim practice at least 3 days a week, otherwise she would stick to the minimum requirements. Now is also the perfect time to sign him up for a sports camp his summer. Just do it, and make him go. He'll make friends and they'll have camp in common. If you don't make it happen, it won't. Take it from me, my daughter would watch Hannah Montana all day if I didn't step in.

- take his tv and computer privileges. Let him earn tv and computer time through exercising.

- get all the junk food out of your house. At 12, he doesn't have a job or car so can only eat what's available. He won't eat junk if there's none to eat.

- be supportive. Eat healthy with him, exercise with him, play physical games with him as a family, go walking/bike riding together.

At 12, it is going to be tough to instill healthy behaviors in him, but the sooner the better. Hope this helps

You deserve praise for being concerned about his health. And, I hope you're able to turn this around sooner vs. later.

Here's where what I have to say gets hard: his habits were learned and not something he did naturally. Babies don't know how to overeat - they learn from us. So, the choices of food, the quantities, etc. are ours to monitor and set good examples for our kids.

That being said, I'm not without being able to accept the same criticism. I need to lose 10-15 lbs (working on it), occasionally slip in my meal planning, and have one child who's in the 97th percentile on weight (she's in the 95th percentile on height too).

1/3 kids born today will be obese and have diabetes. This is the first generation expected not to live longer than their parents. We're heading down a really bad path with our kids.

Here's my advice:
1. See a dietician
2. See his pediatrician and get a plan in place for increased exercise/reduced caloric consumption; have him tested for Type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, etc.
3. stop buying and preparing unhealthy foods
4. limit his time in front of the TV/computer
5. encourage him but don't nag him (he's probably self-conscious about it already from school/friends)
6. set a good example and be willing to be there with him doing the things he may need to do
7. Find out what activities he does like and encourage him to do it more frequently (if he loves to dance, so be it, but encourage him regardless of what it is)

Good luck to you and your son.

Good for you for trying to get this under control!

He is 12 at the end of the day and he eats what you are making for the whole family , if he doesn't like it then he goes without...simple as that. Remove any junk from the house , potato chips , candy , chocolate , cakes etc , if it's not in the cupboards then he can't eat it. Make healthy meals within reason , he is a kid at the end of the day , you can make your own pizza with veggie toppings , you can make a burger (broil the burger) and have it with home made sweet potato fries , or a salad. Does he like sports at all? Maybe sign him up to a sports team on weekends , what about bikes? Try going out for a bike ride with him. If you have a dog you could get him to walk the dog for an allowance.

Hey S.,

From the sound of your post, it seems to me like you already know what the problems are. Although, no one wants to just take away all food and give the poor kid only salads and celery to eat. Nor can you force a person to be athletic. They either are, or they are not.

That being said, I would strongly advise you to reprise your role of 'Mom' while you still can. You buy the groceries. You make the meals. I would suggest upgrading his favorite dishes... for example: make healthy substitutes for the same dish.... If it calls for ground beef, use ground turkey, if it calls for pasta, use whole wheat, etc..

There will have to be a diet change. There is no way around it. He must learn to eat properly. You are right to be worried - once he's old enough to drive and be on his own, its virtually out of your hands. But for now, while he's with you most of the time - I'd make slow and gradual changes.

Encourage better eating and ignore the backlash. Of course there will be backlash. You will be the most awful mom in the entire world and he hates you and oh dear God his world is just imploding because you added a salad to the meal instead of a second helping - but you're doing it to help protect him from future pain... such as obesity, and all of the pain that comes with that... but also heart problems, poor liver function, and digestive problems. Not to mention thyroid issues and eventually diabetes and heart attacks... he needs to learn now while he is still teachable.

As for the TV and computer... sometimes you've just gotta pull the plug. Have a TV turn off week. Put the media on a schedule. 2 hours a day. 1 hour a day.... whatever works. He needs to find a hobby... a craft, a trade, something constructive. He doesn't have to join the football team or start playing tennis - but he should be active at least somewhat. Take a walk together or ride bikes. Go swimming, play board games... card games... etc... but don't hesitate. Its going to take a while to unlearn all of those bad habits.

Best of luck!

You are very wise to get on top of this problem while you are still in the MOM role - teens become even more defiant and have more control over poor-choice meals when they are out.

Everyone in the family needs to get on the same page, and now. You need to make ONE meal for everyone that is healthy. Also, you need to involve everyone in the cooking process - it's fun and it makes meal time take longer than fast or processed foods.

Michelle Obama is working hard on this so it's very much in the media. Jamie Oliver is too.

Be sure you make him healthy lunches and do not let him buy school lunches. Get rid of the junk in your home - don't just deny him access and let everyone else have it. There are healthy alternatives/shifts you can make as others have suggested. Whole grain/whole wheat instead of white flour, sweet potatoes instead of white (roast them in the oven in a little olive oil for healthy "fries"), lower fat meats for burgers along with whole wheat rolls, grilled or roasted vegetables. Hide vegetables in other foods - like pureed butternut squash, skim milk and a smaller amount of low fat cheddar cheese on whole wheat pasta instead of junk mac & cheese, grilled chicken (coated with a tiny bit of canola oil and some herbs), whole grain pancakes with blueberries and lots of wheat germ in them and just a dab of real maple syrup instead of all-corn-syrup junk, and so on. Make lasagna with whole wheat noodles, a mix of cottage cheese and tofu instead of ricotta, and add spinach to the sauce, using tomato puree instead of bottled sauce. It's cheaper and healthier. Make twice and much and freeze the rest to save on cooking time. Make whole wheat enchiladas with beans (fat free refried as a spread, and other whole beans sprinkled in) with cooked chicken, a little corn, lots of peas, and some plain tomato sauce thickened with tomato paste, and jazz it up with any herbs/spices you want like cilantro or chili powder. Serve with brown rice. Make Chinese stir-fry with low fat chicken or beef, and LOTS of vegetables with out a sugary high-cal sauce - I use a little soy sauce and some chicken or beef broth. Veggies can include water chestnuts (crunchy) and bamboo shoots, peppers, broccoli, carrots, peas - whatever he likes but just more of them. Again, brown rice. You can flavor the rice with a little chicken or beef stock instead of some of the water, or add a dash of soy sauce while it's cooking. All these things take much longer to digest, so he won't be so hungry in an hour.

Absolutely get rid of the computer except for homework, and monitor that part of it. Unplug the TV. Period. Take walks together as a family. Work up to greater and greater distances. Make it fun and something everyone is doing, not just the overweight child. Make sure he gets together with friends, doesn't just text or email them. Walking home from school is a good idea - no more rides for distances of less than a mile. Put up a basketball hoop - he can start by shooting free throws and graduate to more and more movement to retrieve the ball, dribble, and so on.

See if his school has an open sport - our schools have track available to everyone, regardless of ability. Sometimes a "big" kid can be enticed to work on shot put or other aspect requiring some "heft" but then gets involved in conditioning. Our school has seen quite a few big kids get trimmer and stronger.

See if your Y or local sports location has a reduced membership for kids who can just use the pool. Also, weight training is key - get a set of weights and a really good video - he can start by watching TV if he's working out at the same time. Once he learns proper technique (lower weights but more repetitions - sets of 12 with a rest of 1 minute in between), he can do this even if he is watching a regular show. Get a mat and have him do crunches while he is on the floor. Have the school phys ed teacher show him a workout and develop a chart where he can keep track of his progress. Reward him with a NON-FOOD treat - trips to museums involve walking along with learning. Trips to the beach involve hiking along the shore too. And so on.

This is a nationwide problem so you and he are not alone. Have him invite a friend for dinner and let them make it together - you'd be surprised how long it takes kids to slice up veggies for Chinese food - and if they nibble while they slice, so what?? Have them start the rice and then slice/dice while they are waiting. Then after dinner, send them both out to shoot hoops or hike around the block - tell them it's either that or they do the dishes. They'll disappear!

Good luck. Be firm and be a good example in your own health too!

I'd like to add 2 cents to this thread too.... kids learn from their parents and not from what we SAY but from what we DO. So as several others have pointed out, it's something you need to be doing as a family. It's not only about the weight he is putting on, but he is likely to suffer from diabetes and you might not even be aware of it yet.

That being said... take a look at the whole family's relationship with food too. Is it used as rewards? How much of it is tied into events and emotions? Tackling some of that is another way to help him too.

As mom, you are the one making the meals, not him. It shouldn't be about his choices but what is nutritionally complete. He needs to understand that he eats to live not that he lives to eat.

Packing healthful lunches is a good idea, but it might be time for you to become his advocate too and fight for better choices in the schools too. The lunch programs may be atrocious but that's in part driven by costs and perceived simplistic preparation. If he's 12, he will soon be heading into a school that lets the kids pick and choose and even if you send a healthful meal, it might be in the trash in favor of the junk food alley at school.

After watching the Food Revolution, I realize how this all leads back to USDA and not the schools itself. It has to be back up to the government level then on down to the schools and unless parents begin to pick up the fight nothing will change.

Sounds like all you need to do is take away the computer, TV and make the meals that work for the whole family. Find some fun games to play outside together: toss the ball, bike ride, go for hikes. Give him choices, but make them healthy for him!

I agree with the advice to visit the pediatrician and dietician. Educate yourself on what the nutritional requirements are for a child this age, and when in doubt, remember that the closer the food is to its natural state, the healthier it is! (i.e. a fresh Apple is better for you than applesauce or apple pie) If you do not buy packaged foods, then your son can't eat them. Instead of white bread, buy whole wheat. Instead of white rice, buy brown rice. Cut back on butter. Don't fry your food. Cut back on red meat. He is still a growing boy so he does need to eat, but he needs to eat things that will help him grow up and not out! =) A diet that is lower in saturated (that is, coming from an animal) fats and sugar will help. Higher fiber (veggies, fruit, whole grains) will help him feel full longer. Drinking water instead of soda or juice will cut the calories in his diet, and will help keep his teeth healthy too.

In order to lose 1 pound, he will have to take in 3500 fewer calories than he puts out. To lose a pound a week, he will have to burn 500 more calories per day than he takes in.

Aside from healthier diet choices, he needs to get moving. You can help him do this by turning off the tv and computer, and going out for a walk. Once he starts feeling healthier and gets into the habit of being outdoors and enjoying the fresh air, he'll have more energy and may decide that he wouldn't mind playing a sport after all. Maybe he'll decide he wouldn't mind riding his bike to his friends' houses or to school. When you go somewhere together, park at the back of the parking lot and walk a little further to get to the store. All those little things count. Exercise doesn't have to feel difficult to be effective!

I commend you for taking charge of this issue. Did you know that today's kids are the first generation in recorded history who have a shorter life expectancy than their parents? It's because they are obese. Isn't that sad? But we as parents can turn it around - and we have to. It's such an important issue.

It is true that kids learn from their parents so I guess my advice would be to make sure that ALL food in your house is super healthy. Do it all together as a family not just him. I think you will find that you will be more motivated and that will make him more so as well. Make sure that the meals are well-balanced and when he asks for second helpings of the food that may not be as great for him tell him NO. You dont want this to become a problem for him down the road b/c not only is it his physical health on the line but mental. He could be picked on at school and by his friends for the rest of his life and this can create very bad self-esteem issues. Definently take him to his pediatrician and get a plan started for him but I think the idea is to do it as a family. Not only are you doing something good for his mind and body but you are also doing it for yourselves as well. When I had our son i was 250 lbs. now I am down to 155 and my husband and I did it together b/c we both were unhappy with the way we looked and found that by doing this with each other we were way more motivated. Also, try to get him involved in meal preparation and let him help pick out his favorite fruits and veggies at the store so there will be healthy snacks around that he can enjoy. Hope this helps and please have patiencewith him. These are decisions that are going to affect the rest of his life. You want to teach him how to eat healthy now so he can always be at his best.

Maybe b4 or after dinner you can go for a walk around the neighborhood. Does he have any favorite sports? Is there anything that he is interested in that can be translated into outside activity? Become active in a sports group whether its through his school, local YMCA, or church..something will motivate him after the diet has started. You could take away the game systems and things so that he doesnt have a choice but I dont know if you are ready to go that far yet. I hope this advice helps.

Does he like any sports? Maybe trying to get him interested in a sport will be a start. Even if it's just a scooter. He may need a lot of encouragement - you doing it with him. Or maybe friends can help with this too.
Another thing to look into is talking to his doctor. Sit down and come up with a plan for healthier eating and exercise. The NFL has the program where you play for 60 minutes a day. Something like that might help. Does your local YMCA or school have swimming or other sports programs you could get him into?
The weather is getting warmer so it will be easier to get outside and run around. Baseball season is here. Will he play catch? bat? run around the bases?
Good luck

First thing comes to mind is to get rid of the "couch potato" entertainment (yes, get rid of the TV and video games). Monitor computer time to HW only. Move the computer into the family/kitchen area so that it's in full-view. Create a password so only the parents can access it. It will be hard on you. But if you want this to work, you can't enable him.

I don't understand how when parents complain that their children do too much of something or not of enough of other things, but give them access to all those things as if they're being forced at gun-point. Well, he's 12 now, you still have time to help change him or once he gets just a little older (the teenage years), you'll have your hands full.

Secondly, start having him walk home from school. If you don't give him a ride, he has no choice but to walk. If you don't live in a safe area, take him to a track/park and make him walk, play, kick a ball, run..whatever. You do not work, you do not eat (in this case, you do not walk/move, you do not eat). Tell him that it's really his choice. And that IS the truth. It is ULTIMATELY his choice. He will be the one to CHOOSE whether he will have a nice,healthy meal or no meal. All you're doing is NOT enabling him anymore.

Didn't read any other advice, but I'm sure you'll get good ones. Just a matter of you following through...not him. He's still too young to really take responsibility for his own actions. But you don't have any excuse but to take responsibility for yours in this. Here's one: stop making foods/dishes of his choice. Eat healthy and serve him healthy foods. He won't let himself starve.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, be calm and don't battle with him. And also explain with LOVE why you want him to be healthy. But don't talk or threaten (keep the talking to a minimal)....just DO.

Lastly, have him watch Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution. Check your local listings. Here in CA, it's on Friday night.

Much of the adviced you've received so far is similar to what I was going to offer. So rather than reiterate, I'll add this...Have you checked out the new show on tv called Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution? I belive it is on ABC on Friday nights at 8 or 9 EST. He is a 30-something celebrity chef from England trying to get America to eat more healthy foods, eat less processed foods, etc. I find it to be an interesting show. Right now he is focusing on schools - getting them to offer better choices for kids, informing parents about what the current school food consists of. He has taken a few kids under his wing to help them with cooking skills. Last week's episode had a lot of feedback from tweens and teens who wanted his help. Perhaps something like that would help motivate your son an provide some information for you. Check out his website for more show info, recipes, etc. http://www.jamieoliver.com/

There are several causes that lead to obesity in children. Obesity can be a result of genetic factors as obesity tends to run in families. Poor diet habits can lead to obesity in children as many families rely on fast food for meals and feed children junk food and sugar filled drinks. Treatment for obesity is to lose weight in order to improve your general quality of life. You can try out for spices like ginger, cinnamon, black pepper etc. are good for loosing weight. Drink ginger tea 2-3 times a day it is also a good remedy for obesity. Increase the quantity of fruits and vegetables and low calorie food.
http://www.fightobesity.net/treatments-for-obesity.html