Childhood Obesity: What Parents Can Do For Their Children

To every family who has a child falling into the risks associated with childhood obesity, it is never too late to do something about it. Nowadays, more recent studies have viewed childhood obesity as a leading major health concern in the U.S., topping off smoking and drug addiction.

In observance of National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, the goal to reducing the incidence rate of obesity among young children has been a continuous advocacy in New Mexico. A survey conducted recently have shown dramatic progress in terms of declining numbers for childhood obesity.

As of 2015, the Public Media for Southern New Mexico & Far West Texas cited that the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) has shown a 16.4 percent decline in child obesity rates, especially among third graders. The importance of keeping the numbers on the low further would significantly lower the probability of having obese adults in the future.

How Parents Can Help

Becoming and staying healthy may be overwhelming for every obese child to accomplish in such a short time, however, it can be slowly yet surely managed with the help of their parents, according to the Huffington Post. And as parents, it is vital to recognize, accept and get ready to face childhood obesity together. An obese or overweight child needs all the respect and support to make the journey towards a healthy lifestyle the ultimate goal.

Discouraging activities which would allow children to deviate from being mobile at least 5 hours daily would eventually give them a better mindset to unconsciously burn whatever excess calories they ate. While unhealthy food is the foremost culprit to developing obesity in children, it's best recommended to keep these away from home if possible.

The rising incidence of childhood obesity is not a laughing matter at any point. On this note, every family member needs to extend all the help needed for every overweight or obese child.