What can I do to encourage my family to maintain a healthy weight?
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Dr. Larry Cheskin of Johns Hopkins Medicine answered:The social pressure to avoid weight gain is generally already strong, so you can help the most not by applying more pressure, but by providing encouragement, and educating family members about the specific advantages to health and energy levels of maintaining a normal body weight.
Don’t be judgmental or act as a “diet cop.” Encouraging each other and being supportive is very important as you work together to lose weight.
Encourage family members to take walks with you, and share the cooking and eating of healthy foods. And remember: Serving as a role model yourself speaks volumes!
The social pressure to avoid weight gain is generally already strong, so you can help the most not by applying more pressure, but by providing encouragement, and educating family members about the specific advantages to health and energy levels of... More -
Laura Vanderbeck answered:In addition to the excellent answers above, I've found most families have their activity revolve around food instead of vice versa. Afterall, what do we do for Thanksgiving? Christmas Dinner? Find other ways to bond with each other. How about a monthly or weekly hike? Reward good grades with minature golf! Make family outings involve activity and use the activity as a reward!!Helpful? 1 person found this helpfulIn addition to the excellent answers above, I've found most families have their activity revolve around food instead of vice versa. Afterall, what do we do for Thanksgiving? Christmas Dinner? Find other ways to bond with each other. How about a... More -
Piedmont Heart Institute answered:The two main ways to encourage and maintain a healthy weight and prevent overweight are to make smart food choices and to be physically active.
Because as parents, you make a big difference in what children think and do. Your children look up to you as role models. If you eat right and are physically active, you have a good chance of helping your children make those choices, too.
As a family, we should be more successful in adopting healthy choices and making changes. It's hard to make changes on your own. Creating family habits around smart eating and physical activity can make it easier for everyone to maintain a healthy weight.
For example, Planning regular family time that involves physical activity means that everyone is supported and encouraged to be active. Putting a bowl of fruit on the kitchen counter and making a family agreement not to have chips or other high-calorie snacks in the house can change everyone's snacking habits. Strategies for Real Life
If you're interested in jump-starting your family on a healthy lifestyle by making some nutrition and physical activity changes, here are a few strategies to get you started: Recognize that you have more control than you might think. You can turn off the TV and the video game. You can give your family more vegetables for dinner. Think about the immediate benefits. If reducing future heart disease risk seems a bit abstract, focus on the good things that can happen right now. You won't feel so full if you have a smaller portion or skip dessert. A fruit salad tastes great and looks beautiful Make small, easy changes over time. It's easier and more appealing to start out with some new approaches to nutrition and physical activity that the whole family is really willing to try. For example, take a walk after dinner a couple of nights a week instead of turning on the TV. Try a variety of strategies. Get your children involved in the process of shopping for and preparing these healthy dinners. Make a plan with your child to walk to school together or to walk after dinner 2 days a week. This answer is based on source information from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.Helpful? 1 person found this helpfulThe two main ways to encourage and maintain a healthy weight and prevent overweight are to make smart food choices and to be physically active. Because as parents, you make a big difference in what children think and do. Your children look up to you... More -
Deborah Davis answered:The key to achieving and maintaining a healthy weight isn't about short-term dietary changes. It's about a lifestyle that includes healthy eating, regular physical activity, and balancing the number of calories you consume with the number of calories your body uses. Staying in control of your weight contributes to good health now and as you age.The key to achieving and maintaining a healthy weight isn't about short-term dietary changes. It's about a lifestyle that includes healthy eating, regular physical activity, and balancing the number of calories you consume with the number of... More -
Katie Davis answered:I'm going to echo what a few others have said by emphasizing that the best way to encourage a family to maintain a healthy weight is to focus on everything EXCEPT weight. If a family member is not a healthy weight, chances are he/she knows that -whether it's a child or an adult. Our society unfortunately does a great job of focusing on weight and body image in a negative way. Instead, focus on creating a healthy environment - keep fruits and veggies out on the counter (and actually set an example by eating those foods!), organize family activity nights, cook with your kids in the kitchen...and also enjoy treats once in a while because that is a part of normal and healthy eating too!I'm going to echo what a few others have said by emphasizing that the best way to encourage a family to maintain a healthy weight is to focus on everything EXCEPT weight. If a family member is not a healthy weight, chances are he/she knows that... More
