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\nHelp your child \u2013 and your whole family \u2013 eat healthy and stay physically active. The healthy habits your child learns now can last a lifetime.
\nWhat can I do to help my child stay at a healthy weight?
Help your child stay at a healthy weight by balancing what your child eats with physical activity. Two of the best ways to help your child stay at a healthy weight are to:
You are a role model.
Parents are often the most important role models for children. When you choose to eat right and be physically active, your child will be more likely to make those choices, too.
Plus, being active and preparing healthy meals together are great ways to spend quality time with your family.
\nShare these websites with your kids.
These kid-friendly websites can help children learn about healthy habits.
Why do I need to worry about my child\u2019s weight?
Being overweight or having obesity can lead to serious problems, like:
Learn more about health problems and childhood obesity.
\nBeing overweight as a child increases the risk of being overweight or having obesity as an adolescent and young adult. In other words, many kids don\u2019t \u201cgrow out of\u201d being overweight.
\nToday, about 7 in 10 adults \u2013 and about 1 in 3 children \u2013 are overweight or have obesity.
\nHow do I know if my child is at a healthy weight?
Finding out your child\u2019s body mass index (BMI) is one way to learn if he or she is at a healthy weight.
Children grow at different rates, so it\u2019s not always easy to tell if your child is at a healthy weight. Healthy weight is also defined differently for children and teens than it is for adults.
\nAsk your child\u2019s doctor or nurse whether your child is at a healthy weight. You can also use this BMI calculator for children and teens if you know your child\u2019s height and weight.
\nWhat if my child is overweight or has obesity?
Successful weight management programs for kids include counseling and education about eating a healthy diet and being physically active. Parents have an important role to play in these programs, too.
Talk to your child\u2019s doctor or nurse for more information.
\nHelp your child make healthy choices and learn healthy habits.
\nAsk the doctor to screen your child for obesity.
Your child\u2019s doctor or nurse can calculate your child's BMI (body mass index) and say if your child is at a healthy weight. If your child is overweight or has obesity, ask the doctor or nurse to help you find a weight-loss program for your child.
Look for a weight management program that includes counseling to help kids:
\nWhat about cost?
Obesity screening and counseling are covered under the Affordable Care Act, the health care reform law passed in 2010. Depending on your insurance plan, your child may be able to get these services at no cost to you.
Check with your insurance provider to find out what\u2019s included in your plan. For information about other services for children that are covered by the Affordable Care Act, visit HealthCare.gov.
\nMake sure your child gets at least 60 minutes (1 hour) of physical activity every day.
Fun and simple activities, like playing tag, are great ways for kids to get moving. And it doesn\u2019t have to be 60 minutes all at once \u2013 it can be shorter activities that add up to 1 hour a day.
Be sure your child is doing different types of activity, including:
\nFind out more about physical activity for kids.
\nMake getting active a family project.
\nGet more ideas on how to increase your family\u2019s daily activity.
\nLimit screen time.
Keep screen time to 2 hours or less a day for kids age 2 and older. Screen time is time spent using computers or smart phones, watching TV, or playing video games.
Eat healthy.
You can be a role model for your child by eating healthy. Plus, a healthy diet can help protect you from heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and some types of cancer.
Shop, cook, and plan for healthy meals.
Buy and serve more vegetables, fruits, and whole grain foods. Here are some tips and ideas:
Get more tips for smart food shopping. If you need help buying food, ask your child\u2019s doctor about a program called WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) \u2013 a government program that can help you get healthy food for yourself and your child. Use this tool to see if you might qualify for WIC.
\nSit at the table and eat together as a family.
Plan healthy, affordable meals and enjoy them as a family. When families eat together, children eat more vegetables and fruits and fewer foods with added sugars. Let children help pick out healthy foods, prepare meals, and set the table.
Start the day with a good breakfast.
Skipping breakfast can make kids hungry and tired, and it may lead them to snack on foods high in added sugars later in the day. Give your kids whole-grain cereal with fat-free or low-fat milk and fruit instead of sugary cereal.
Make healthy snacks.
Healthy snacks give kids important nutrients and help control hunger between meals.
Make sure your child gets enough sleep.
If kids don\u2019t get enough sleep, they are at higher risk of being overweight or having obesity.
Set a bedtime schedule and remind your child when it\u2019s time to get ready for bed. Consider keeping electronic devices \u2013 like TVs, computers, and smart phones \u2013 out of the bedroom. Get more tips on healthy sleep habits.
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