Here's how you can help reduce childhood obesity:
1. Rethink the drink. Are you concerned about a child whose weight may be unhealthy? First, ask permission ("is it ok to talk a little about your child's health?").
If a family is under a lot of stress and you can only make one suggestion, make it this:
Water, not soda.
Even if a child can just cut back on soda consumption rather than stopping completely, it will make a difference. A typical 20 ounce soda contains 17 teaspoons of sugar.
Contact the Health Promotion Division, SLO County Public Health, at 781-5564 for free Rethink Your Drink materials for educators and presentations for parents.
2. Give simple, realistic advice. Parents can help their children by working on these five family behaviors:
- Get up and play actively at least one hour a day.
- Cut back on screen time to under 2 hours per day (no screen time for children under two).
- Eat at least 5 helpings of fruits and vegetables a day (frozen and canned are fine, no sugar added).
- Eat a healthy breakfast daily.
- Eat less fast food - cut back on the number of meals each week and/or the portion size.
3. Use gentle wording. Be mindful that words like overweight and fat are difficult for parents and children to hear. Stick with words that focus on health, not appearance, and are appropriate to children:
Instead of:
| Replace with:
| "Overweight," "fat," "chubby," "heavy," "obese"
| "Unhealthy weight"
| "Ideal weight," "normal"
| "Healthy weight"
| "Diet" or "bad food"
| "Healthier food choices"
| "Exercise"
| "Activity" or "play"
| Talking about focusing on weight
| Talking about focusing on lifestyle
| Talking about fixing the child
| Talking about changing family behaviors
|
Download this handout in English and Spanish for your families.
Would you like this handout as a poster for your agency, in English or Spanish? Email Becca at: [email protected].
Additional handouts at:
|