Preventing Childhood Obesity
At NY Foot Health we believe in the importance of healthy weight management. In fact, it’s one of our community initiatives to help make New Yorkers healthier. That’s why we want to take the time to recognize National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month which takes place in September.
Studies have shown that children with obesity are more likely to grow into adults with obesity. And being overweight as a child or an adult significantly increases your risk of podiatric and other health problems including:
Chronic foot and ankle pain
Heart disease
In addition, children who are obese are often victims of bullying and suffer emotional distress as well.
Making Positive Changes
Too often when it comes to weight loss people view it as a series of things they have to give up. Help your child make healthy additions to their life that will pay off in the long run. Some tips to consider:
Encourage physical activity. Simply walking more is a good place to start. Schedule time to walk together as a family several times a week. Sneak in extra walking by parking farther away from your destinations or getting off the bus one stop earlier. If foot pain is preventing your child from walking be sure to schedule an examination with a podiatrist to diagnose and treat the problem. Need to find a podiatrist in your area? Let our online directory assist you.
Make healthy food swaps. Teach your child the basics of good nutrition and how to read labels. Challenge them to cut a certain number of calories from their daily diet and then shop together to find healthier snacks, low fat dairy products and no-calorie substitutes for sugary drinks.
Let’s get cooking. Make meals at home together saves money and gives you a shared activity with your children in addition to being a great way to learn about a healthy diet. Experiment with international cuisines that use unique spices and healthy cooking methods like grilling and roasting. Let your child choose new items from the produce department and investigate how to prepare them.
Get a better night’s sleep. Many people don’t realize but inadequate amounts of sleep are also linked to obesity. Creating a soothing, wind down routine before bedtime, ensuring that the temperature is comfortable in the bedroom and not allowing phones, tablets and other electronics in the room can all help your child get a good night’s sleep.
To learn more about life style choices that can affect your feet and your overall health, contact us and subscribe to our free e-newsletter.