strategies to maintain healthy weight in...

STRATEGIES TO MAINTAIN HEALTHY WEIGHT IN CHILDRENAdapted from the Alliance For A Healthier Generation: https://www.healthiergeneration.org/

Dietary intake:• Eatadietrichinfruitsandvegetables(21/2cupsto61/2cupsoffruitsandvegetableseachday)• Offerwaterormilkinsteadofsugaryfruitjuicesandsodas• Eatadietrichincalcium• Eatadiethighinfiber• Limitfastfoodandjunkfood• Choosehealthysourcesofproteinsuchasleanmeats,nuts,andeggs

Physical activity:• Limitscreentime(television,movies,computergamesandwebbrowsing)tooneortwohourseachday

Eating behaviors:• Eatbreakfastdaily• Limiteatingoutatrestaurants,particularlyfast‑foodrestaurants• Encouragefamilymealsinwhichparentsandchildreneattogether• Limitportionsize

Health care professionals who wish to support obesity prevention in clinical, school, and community settings should:• Activelyengagefamilieswithparentalobesityormaternaldiabetes,becausethesechildrenareatincreasedriskfor developingobesityeveniftheycurrentlyhavenormalBMI.

• Encourageanauthoritativeparentingstyleinsupportofincreasedphysicalactivityandreducedsedentarybehavior, providingtangible,motivationalsupportforchildren.

• Encourageparentstomodelhealthydietsandportionsizes,physicalactivityandlimitedtelevisiontime.

• Promotephysicalactivityatschoolandinchild‑caresettings,includingafter‑schoolprograms,byaskingchildren andparentsaboutactivityinthesesettingsduringroutineofficevisits.

Children of healthy weight should participate in 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity daily, unless contraindicated:• The60minutescanbeaccumulatedthroughouttheday.

• Ideally,suchactivityshouldbeenjoyabletothechild.

• Whereassomehealthandpsychologicalbenefitsmaybeattainedbyachievingthe60‑minutegoal,greaterduration shouldyieldincreasedbenefit.

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