Childhood Obesity: When One of Your Children Is Overweight

This situation can be very difficult, but it's great that you're asking the question. To begin with, it's important for both of your kids to eat healthily, regardless of whether they are overweight or slim. Kids and teens need healthy foods to fuel their growing bodies, especially as they develop through puberty. A slimmer child may require more calories but still shouldn't eat more junk food than an overweight sibling. Having less junk food in your home will help both of your kids.

Does your slimmer child spend more time on physical activity? If this is the case, your heavier child may need help recognizing the need to make some changes and not to feel jealous or resentful of the slimmer sibling. It can be tough when siblings compare, but because parents can't just make the comparisons go away, we need to help our kids cope with them realistically to avoid childhood obesity.