Despite all the above, it is possible for parents to make a positive impact on the lifestyle of their offspring and give them the guidance that will ensure a happy and healthy adulthood.

What is the role needed from parents to make a contribution to the prevention of obesity in their child? Parents must address the causes of childhood obesity. Parents must pay attention to their kids and help them to feel that they belong and that they are in a secure environment. If your child is neglected by you there is an increased possibility of obesity compared to other children. Be sure not to force your kids to eat more than they feel like at mealtime, you will train your child’s metabolism to function at a higher level than what would be healthy for the child.

The amount of food eaten is not what is most important. Of far more importance is that the child should eat properly and then get adequate exercise. Your kid will acquire abnormal eating behaviours if you are going to be constantly fussing about food intake.

The time that your kid spends in front of the television must be limited. As your child spends more time in front of the TV so he or she will be more obese,TV obviously reduces physical activity, it then consequently also reduces the metabolism of the body. The junk food commercials on television also affects children, and they are encouraged to eat more junk food and drink soft drinks that will have one result only and that is increased weight.

If you are thinking that your child weighs more than his or her ideal weight and that there is a risk of obesity, you should go to the doctor as soon as possible, and stop obesity in its tracks immediately. It is not really necessary for expecting mothers to eat for two persons, too much food while you are pregnant just dramatically increases the possibility that both you and your unborn child will in future become obese. Your newborn should be breastfeeded for a period of not less than one year. With your infant still very young, a greater emphasis should be on fruits, and vegetables and grains while all the time monitoring to see if the youngster is really hungry before feeding it.

If the risk that your child will become obese is high, you should consider using fat free milk instead of full cream milk. Avoid cane sugar and snacks that contain excessive fat, because they are high in low nutritional value calories. If your kid is still at school, put in place steadfast rules as to how much they are allowed to watch television, snacks must be nutritious, food treats will be allowed only occasionally and generally good food habits must be maintained.

The child obesity problem does not remain static, it keeps on increasing with each passing year and, since the early eighties, there has been a dangerously high increase. The child obesity epidemic poses a great risk to our children’s children, it is now the time to stop it on a globewide scale.