Overweight toddler, overweight teen? Dr. P's 8 steps to a healthier family

"So, Billy" I said to my cherubic six year old patient, in for a routine check-up. "I see your birthday is next week. What are you hoping to get as a present?"

He looked at me with shiny, hopeful eyes. "A Barcalounger," was his breathtaking response.

I think it this was at this exact moment (which happened about a decade ago) that I finally realized how profoundly the landscape for kids and obesity had changed. Now, of course, you can't avoid reading about it. And for good reason: the number of overweight kids is skyrocketing and worthy of every parent's attention.

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I've blogged a lot about this subject before:

• Obese toddlers who can't fit into a normal car seat
• Overfeeding as a sign of love
• The advantages of a low animal fat diet
• Soda and juice intake contributing to obesity

Now comes new research* showing that overweight toddlers have a 40-50% chance of becoming overweight 12 year olds - which is a 6 times more likely risk compared to their thinner toddler pals.

This is still complicated. Genetics, as always, plays a significant role in both directions: some toddlers and children (and adults whom, of course, we all hate) can eat non-stop and never become overweight. Others might just as well apply the ice cream directly to their cute and ever-growing pot bellies and thunder thighs. It's those kids, this study suggests, for whom more care to prevent them from becoming overweight would be worthwhile.

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What does this mean for you parents? As usual, it's hard to find the right balance.

Certainly, putting a toddler on a diet is almost never a good idea. And obsessing about overweight so much that it becomes a constant battle and source of worry also misses the boat. After all, a childhood without any ice cream is unthinkable, I don't care what you weigh.

But, as parents, there are measures you can take for the entire family that will benefit everyone's health and, at the same time, serve to keep the excess weight off those of your kids who are susceptible to becoming overweight.

Dr P's 8 steps to a healthier family:

1. Cut down on animal fat (skimmed or 1% fat milk and dairy products after the age of 3; use unsaturated oils; more broiled and baked, fewer fried foods).
2. Smaller portions of foods for all.
3. Don't use food as a reward for good behavior.
4. Minimal junk food.
5. Nutritious, low-calorie snacks like fruits and veggies. If they don't like it, tough. They can wait until the next meal to eat. They won't starve.
6. Remembering that health, not food = love.
7. Minimal juice and soda. Water as the beverage of choice!
8. Plenty of opportunities for exercise (it's estimated that kids need at least 90 minutes / day of moderate exercise to stay fit).

Your goal is not a skinny toddler, just one who is not overweight and who, hopefully, will learn excellent eating preferences and exercise habits that will benefit him/her in the teen years to come.

I'd welcome hearing about nutritional and exercise strategies that have worked with your kids.

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*Article cited:
"Identifying risk for obesity in early childhood"
Pediatrics, September 2006, e594-601

Related Topics: WebMD Video: Keeping Kids Active, Motivating the Overweight Child, Extreme Obesity in Tots Linked to Low IQ

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