| |
Page
3
Look for the following characteristics when choosing
a
weight-control program for your child. The program should:
- Be staffed with a variety of health professionals. The best
programs may include RDs, exercise physiologists, pediatricians
or family physicians, and psychiatrists or psychologists.
- Perform a medical evaluation of the child. Before being enrolled
in a program, your child's weight, growth, and health should be
reviewed by a physician. During enrollment, your child's weight,
growth, and health should be monitored by a health professional
at regular intervals.
- Focus on the whole family, not just the overweight child.
- Be adapted to the specific age and capabilities of the child.
Programs for 4-year-olds are different from those developed for
children 8 or 12 years of age in terms of degree of responsibility
of the child and parents.
- Focus on behavioral changes.
- Teach the child how to select a variety of foods in appropriate
portions.
- Encourage daily activity and limit sedentary activity, such
as watching TV.
- Include a maintenance program and other support and referral
resources to reinforce the new behaviors and to deal with underlying
issues that contributed to overweight.
- The overall goal of a successful treatment program should be
to help the whole family focus on making healthy changes to their
eating and activity habits that they will be able to maintain
throughout life.
Reprinted
with permission from the
Weight-control Information Network
1 Win Way
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-3665
http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health/edu.htm#win
The
Weight-control Information Network (WIN) is a service of the National
Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK),
part of the National Institutes of Health, under the U.S. Public
Health Service. Authorized by Congress (Public Law 103-43), WIN
assembles and disseminates to health professionals and the public
information on weight control, obesity, and nutritional disorders.
WIN responds to requests for information; develops, reviews, and
distributes publications; and develops communications strategies
to encourage individuals to achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
Publications produced by the clearinghouse are reviewed carefully
for scientific accuracy, content, and readability.
|
|
