Treating Childhood Obesity

Keep it positive. Don't focus on weight loss—concentrate on the entire family becoming healthier. Role modeling by parents is one of the best ways to make change happen for everyone.

It's more than just the food we eat every day—it's the amount of physical activity we get, the way we reward children for a job well done, and what messages in our environment we are giving about food and getting up and moving. Young children are developing their lifelong habits today. By giving them a healthy example, you provide health insurance for their future. But keep this in mind: Take small steps to big changes and keep those changes simple.

In the end, it's all about the choices you make for a healthier family and to prevent childhood obesity:

• Choose five or more serving of fruits and vegetables a day
• Drink more water than sugary beverages
• Opt for healthy snacks
• Increase active play and decrease screen time
• Choose three-a-day servings of non- or low-fat dairy
• Enjoy a healthy breakfast
• Serve a smart portion size