Just Kids Pediatrics is here to help if your child is struggling with obesity in Newark, DE. Dr. Kerry Kirifides and Dr. Sonia Shastry are dedicated to providing compassionate and comprehensive care for children and adolescents. Keep reading for tips, and come see us for a full evaluation and treatment plan.
Child Obesity in Newark, DE
According to the CDC, child obesity now affects 1 in 5 adolescents, so you are certainly not alone if your family is struggling with weight. Child obesity causes many problems later in life including high cholesterol, diabetes, hypertension, joint pain, sleep apnea, and negative mental effects like anxiety and depression.
When your child is obese, it's easy to feel like there's a huge obstacle between your family and a healthy lifestyle, but with your help, they can change now and avoid the negative consequences later in life. You want to focus on making positive changes and setting short-term goals to gradually change over into healthier habits.
Healthy eating
Avoiding fast food is the best rule to follow for weight loss. This food is convenient and craved by kids everywhere, but very high in cholesterol and dangerous to consume often. Focus on healthy food like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Learning how to cook and prepare meals can empower your kid to take charge of their own diet. Teaching your kids about food can be fun, and learning how to listen to your body and practice mindful eating is important for everyone in the family.
Regular exercise
We all know regular exercise is what's best for us, but even adults have trouble getting motivated and sticking to a program. One of the easiest ways to get kids excited about exercise is to involve the whole family and do activities together. A daily walk is a great first step, and individually you can build up to more rigorous exercises. School-aged children (ages 6-17) should have at least one hour of either moderate or vigorous activity every day.
Dr. Kerry Kirifides and Dr. Sonia Shastry can help with a treatment plan if your child is struggling with obesity. At Just Kids Pediatrics we want to lower child obesity in Newark, DE. Contact us for an appointment at (302) 918-6400.