Three steps to fighting childhood obesity at home

September is the second annual national childhood obesity awareness month.  This continues to be a problem for our nation with the surgeon general announcing that it is the number health concern that our nation faces!

According to a new study conducted by Ohio State University, there are three things you can do at home that will lower your child's risk of being obese:

1. Eat together as a family.  A study done by the Journal of Pediatrics has shown that regular family meals decreases the risk of childhood obesity in preschoolers.
2. Limit TV time to no more than 2 hours a day.  Too much TV time means that your child is not being active.  Your preschooler is also developing sedentary habits that will probably get worse as they older.  Instill being active habits while they are young.
3. Set bedtimes to ensure that your child gets enough sleep.  You might be surprised to learn that childhood obesity has been associated with lack of sleep.  See how much sleep your child needs.

If you can combine these three routines for your preschooler, you will be reducing their changes of being obese by 40%.  And helping them develop lifelong habits that will help them maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Other resources:

Why You Should Not Put Your Child on a Fad Diet

Helping Your Overweight Child- Support and Resources for Parents

Health implications of childhood obesity

Setting healthy goals as a family

Lack of early childhood sleep linked to childhood obesity