How to Raise a Fit Kid

Tuesday, 22 March 2011 | by Pat's Picks

Trying to get an overweight child to lose weight is a hard thing to do. In fact, the Washington Post says most parents “blow it,” either by using coercion or enforcing a strict, unrealistic diet. Experts say instead of focusing on the scale, parents should zero in on their kid’s overall health. Researchers have found focusing on a child’s weight is ineffective and can “trigger a vicious cycle in which distressed children turn to a reliable source of comfort: food.”

Another tip? Don’t single out an overweight kid by putting them on a special diet—if everyone else in the family continues to eat how they normally have, the overweight child is likely to see his or her diet as punishment.

There’s an interesting (and scary) sidebar in today’s Post about a surge in Type 2 Diabetes amongst kids.