Childhood Obesity

The rising incidents of childhood obesity is well documented. A recent Statistics Canada study found that 17 percent of Canadian children are overweight while 9 percent are obese and figures in the United States and the United Kingdom are even higher. It is predicted that obesity in children is the next major health crisis facing a generation.

While there are many contributing factors to the rise in obesity, including economic factors and genetics, a recent American study to be published in the March issue of Pediatrics suggests that three simple lifestyle changes can lower the rate of obesity in children by up to 40 percent.

Healthy Family Meals

Essential to preventing obesity or losing weight are good healthy meals. But according to the study, it is not only what you eat, but where and with whom. They recommend eating together as a family at least five times a week. While this may be a difficult change for families with working parents, the research suggests that it can help children avoid obesity or lose weight.