While there are several weight loss supplements on the market today, health professionals agree that none are safe for children under the age of 18. In fact, many could end up harming their child instead of helping it.
The only true (and proven) way for your child to lose weight is through diet and exercise. There is no “magic pill” weight melter that many companies would like you to believe.
Diet
If your child is overweight, chances are other family members are as well and can benefit from changes to a healthier diet as well. The key to your child losing weight is to make small, almost imperceptible changes to everyone’s diet. Don’t pick your child by feeding him his own diet! That only erodes her self-esteem, which may already be low due to her weight.
Move your family toward a healthier lifestyle by first having everyone eat at the table as a family, not in front of the TV or in your bedroom. Studies have shown that children who eat with their family are less likely to be overweight.
Make it easy for your child to eat fresh fruits and vegetables. Start by having a bowl of apples and oranges on the table throughout the day. Or, store washed bite-sized veggies in the fridge with a healthy dressing.
Next, start gradually cutting back on sugary drinks and sodas (even diet and fruit punches aren’t good for them). Start by reducing by one the first week, by two the second week, etc. until your son doesn’t drink anything. Encourage your child to drink water instead.
Make sure your child has time to eat breakfast. Your mother was right: it is the most important meal of the day, but many children do not eat it. As counterintuitive as it may seem, skipping breakfast leads to weight gain.
working out
The first step to getting your child to exercise more is to limit the time they spend watching TV or playing video games. Instead, he spends that time doing physical activities, like playing outside or participating in a sport or going for a family walk. Geocaching is a fun sport for kids of all ages (and adults, too). Physical activity has to be fun or you will find resistance to doing it.
Another way to get your kids interested in eating healthy is to get them involved in meal planning and grocery shopping. Not only will they learn what foods are healthy, but they’ll also gain exercise just by walking through the grocery store and a sense of ownership by helping out.