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.

Friday, May 29, 2009

Children Adopt Parents' Attitudes about Food

Concern for healthy eating habits motivates parents to set rules regarding the types and quantities of food their kids can eat. But according to a Feb. 19 article by Jodi Mailander Farrell of the Chicago Tribune, the parents' own eating habits have a far greater impact that the rules they set:
The best thing you can do for your kids is to be a good role model and eat the way you want your child to eat. Choose a variety of healthy foods from all the food groups, eat in moderation and make exercise part of your regular routine.
An estimated 10 million women and 1 million men suffer from eating disorders in the United States. Many of these disordered eaters begin to show symptoms at very early ages -- some as young as eight. Parental influence goes a long way toward ensuring that kids have good perspectives on food and healthy body image.

Labels: parents, attitudes, body_image

Posted By: Aspen/CRC