CHAPTER 10

Families That Play Together

Staying healthy will be easier, and more fun, if you’re all in it together. It’s up to parents to establish an atmosphere of active living and support for their kids’ recreational activities. Setting a good example will help kids see the value of staying fit.

PART 1 The Stakes are High

We have been reading about the obesity epidemic for decades, yet a 2012 CDC report shows that we have barely moved the needle when it comes to improving the statistics. Almost 1 in 3 adults and about 17 percent of our children are obese, according to the most recent government statistics. Along with obesity, rates of Type II diabetes and heart disease among children have been on the rise. READ MORE

The role of families in heading off trouble is clear, too. If one parent is obese, there is a 50 percent chance that the children will also be obese. When both parents are obese, there's an 80 percent chance that the kids will be obese. Families must intervene early and decisively to help their kids avoid a lifetime of weight struggles: A child who is obese between ages 10 and 13 has an 80 percent chance of becoming an obese adult. LESS

PART 2 Not Just Games

The recommendation for kids' exercise is 60 minutes daily of physical activity. Not varsity sports, not elite traveling soccer teams, not endurance events—although all of those things are fine for some kids. For kids who are not interested in sports or who feel they lack necessary skills for physical contests, try incorporating more activity into daily life. READ MORE

What counts? Almost anything that gets your family up and moving, with hearts pumping and enough effort to challenge your muscles and joints. For reluctant family members, activity can include household chores, yard work, climbing stairs or free-form running around in the park. Make a few trips walking instead of driving to school, the market, music lessons or any destination a safe walking distance from your home. The more you move, the better. LESS

PART 3 Kids with Weight Challenges

You Try It!

The Active Family Checklist

If your child is overweight, tread carefully. Even though this issue is all too common in American families, it is emotionally touchy for most kids. Consult with your child's pediatrician about his or her activities and nutrition. Whatever recommendations the doctor makes for your overweight child, take them on as new guidelines for the whole family. Lifestyle changes should not be presented as a restriction for an overweight child, but as a set of new rules for everyone. Here are some habits that the American Heart Association recommends for healthy families to help avoid childhood obesity and its attendant health problems: READ MORE

Eat dinner together

Try going for a family walk or trip to the park after dinner

Make sure kids get adequate sleep

Set a good example when you exercise and eat. If you make a choice that your child wouldn't be allowed to make, it could seem that you aren't on his or her “team”