Do As I Say Not As I Do:
Can An Overweight Parent Help An Overweight Child?

The short answer to this title is: YES!

The longer version suggests that if you are serious about helping your overweight child, you must help yourself. Whatever program that you undertake for weight control, see if you can get your child in a parallel program. For example, certain self-help programs such as Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) offer parent/child groups. Some hospitals also offer weight reduction classes for parents and their children.

Another critical step would be to consider exercising with your child. Even encouraging movement would be a very positive thing. This can be done by trying to park further away rather than closer to shops and also by creating outings that promote movement, such as trips to museums and parks.

Another critical step that you can take is to modify the eating environment in your home and also when you go out to eat. You can eliminate virtually all high fat foods from your house and make appropriate substitutions. Similarly, when going out to eat, you can insist that the entire family has to order healthy low fat food. If you occasionally vary from this plan, you introduce the possibility of creating more arguments rather than fewer arguments about this style of eating. If you can stay as consistent as humanly possible, your child will understand that this is the way it is going to be in this family. Remember, even birthdays can be celebrated with a frozen yogurt and angel food cake, rather than the high fat problematic alternatives.