Encourage an overweight child to participate in activities with you. Outdoor activities such as playing tag, swinging, walking, bicycling, flying a kite, swimming, building a snow fort and others boost energy requirements for a child and help balance energy intake with energy output. Plan family outings that boost physical activity. Hiking, picnicking, trips to the park playground, bicycle trips and bowling are some ideas. A Guide to Daily Food Choices Food groups listed from top to bottom and left to right.
Studies show that many school-aged children eat diets moderate to high in fat.
From age two and on, encourage children to choose foods that are lower in total fat and saturated fat. Eat enough calories to support growth and development, and to reach or maintain desirable body weight. Keep total dietary fat intake to 30 percent of calories or less, saturated fat to less than 10 percent of total calories, and dietary cholesterol to less than 300 mg per day. The NCEP guidelines do not recommend routine screening for high blood cholesterol levels in children. NCEP does advocate screening for children and adolescents whose parents or grandparents developed heart disease or had high blood cholesterol levels at age 55 or younger.