Healthy Childhood Weight Control Begins in Infancy
Parents can do a lot to help children keep their weight in check, according to an expert from Harvard University -- and some of the steps to prevent childhood overweight and obesity begin should be taken during the infant and toddler years.
Professor Elsie Taveras said that mothers who start pregnancy at a normal weight but who gain more than 25 pounds increase their child's chances for being overweight by age three. Also, allowing children who gain too much weight in the first six months of life puts them at much higher risk for obesity by age three, Dr. Taveras warned.
Professor Elsie Taveras said that mothers who start pregnancy at a normal weight but who gain more than 25 pounds increase their child's chances for being overweight by age three. Also, allowing children who gain too much weight in the first six months of life puts them at much higher risk for obesity by age three, Dr. Taveras warned.
- According to a study in the journal Obesity, today's babies are almost 60 percent more likely to be overweight than were babies 20 years ago.
- Some simple feeding practices are important, such as paying attention to your baby's cues when you are feeding him or her.
- For example, if an infant pulls his head away from his bottle, he is saying, “I don't want eat anymore.”
- It is a good idea to keep the television off while you are feeding your baby so that you can remain sensitive to his cues.
Labels: childhood_obesity, infant, parenting, prevention
posted by My Overweight Child at 3:47 AM
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