Childhood Obesity - Do you have an overweight child? We offer tips to help your child lose weight and get fit!

The My Overweight Child blog will help you keep informed about the latest research, findings, and resources available to parents of overweight or obese kids. There are many knowledgeable people working on the increasingly dire problem of childhood obesity - and we want to give parents a place where they can check in regularly to see the latest studies and tips available to help you help your child lose weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

We invite you to add your comments - if you have feedback for the blog, would like some specific topics covered, or you just want to share your experience as a parent dealing with childhood obesity.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Parents Shape Kids' Eating Habits

In the continuing battle against childhood obesity, researchers are reminding parents that they have the greatest influence over their children's eating habits.
"'We know that parents have tremendous influence over how many fruits and vegetables their children eat,' says Debra Haire-Joshu, Ph.D., a professor at George Warren Brown School of Social Work. 'When parents eat more fruits and vegetables, so do their children...'"
A five-year study in rural Missouri found that programs like Parents as Teachers, in which parents are taught how to incorporate healthy eating and healthy eating lessons into everyday life, were highly effective in helping parents and children learn healthy eating habits. Source: Washington University in St. Louis

Labels: eating-habits, parents, influences

Posted By: Aspen Education Group

Comments:

Loren S on 9/17/2008
My father passed away a few years ago at age 63 from complications due to obesity while he was recovering from surgery. Had he not been obese it is very likely he would have fully recovered from his abdominal surgery and would still be with us today.

I have chosen to undertake a project where I can enlist parents of overweight children alongside a nutritionist and a fitness expert in my community to develop a healthy eating and exercise program for their overweight children. I know without programs such as these, families of overwieght children will continue the poor lifestyle patterns they are currently in and these children will in turn become overweight adults. I would like to do whatever I can to help ensure overweight children do not end up as overweight adults. I would appreciate any feedback and help on finding out how I can locate these parents.