Medically Reviewed by Jude M. Thomas, MD

Video games and online video streaming services may not directly cause childhood obesity, but they do go hand-in-hand with bad eating habits. And parents must take an active role if their children are to live longer, healthy lives.

“Childhood obesity raises the risk of a long list of health issues,” says McLeod Pediatrician Dr. Jude Thomas. “The potential problems include bone/joint problems, asthma and Type 2 diabetes, which can lead to heart disease and kidney problems. Should the obesity follow them into adulthood, the risk increases for many types of cancer.

Two guidelines to follow when dealing with an overweight child:

1. There are no hard and fast rules on when a child is “obese.” Children continually grow and develop. Whether or not they are obese should be determined by a physician.
2. In most cases, you don’t want to put a child on a weight REDUCTION diet. For an overweight child, the goal should be reducing the RATE of weight gain, while allowing normal growth and development.

Prevention or dealing with an obese child falls in two primary categories.

MOVE MORE

Too much time in front of television and computer takes its toll. The average American youth watches TV 24 hours a week, not counting computer time. Parents should set a daily time limit, such as 1 or 2 hours of “screen time.”

Outdoor exercise or organized sports help burn calories and build muscles. Engage family members in nature walks, swimming, bike rides, soccer or other backyard sports.

EAT LESS

Make sure to include vegetables, fruits and whole grains are in their meals, along with lean meat, low-fat dairy products, lots of water and only limited sugar-sweetened beverages.

Think “moderation” in all things. In other words, Portion Control. The CDC offers these tips to avoid “Portion Size Pitfalls”:

• When you’re eating at home, serve the food on individual plates. Leaving serving dishes on the table encourages second and third helpings. Another tip includes, serving on smaller plates to make the servings seem plentiful.
• At a restaurant, ask for a to-go bag as soon as the food comes to the table. Despite what our mothers may have told us, you don’t have to clean your plate at every meal.
• Eating in front of the TV? Don’t eat out of the package. Put a reasonable serving in a bowl. If you buy their extra-large packages at one of the super stores, keep it out of sight as temptation.

ACTION YOU CAN TAKE

If you’re worried about your child’s weight, try some of the tips here and see a pediatrician to determine if problems — other than a sedentary life and bad diet — are to blame.

Find a Pediatrician near you:

Sources include: McLeod Health, US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, ABC News, New York State Department of Health, America