SAN DIEGO, Sept. 24, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The headlines are alarming: "Childhood Obesity Reaches Crisis Level." "Study Links Childhood Obesity to Risk of Adult Cancers." "Childhood Obesity Increases Early Heart Disease Risk."
"Obesity now affects 17 percent of all children and adolescents in the United States, triple the rate from just one generation ago; but parents must not give up," said Mary Jane Osmick, M.D., vice president and medical director of health services for American Specialty Health (ASH), a national health and wellness company that provides the Healthyroads® program.
"Parents can make a big difference by helping to instill healthy behaviors in their children," Dr. Osmick continued. "For example, I recently witnessed the 'power of parental influence' on children's eating habits. While standing in line at a salad bar, I overheard a father planning the meal with his three children. 'OK,' he said, 'Remember how we talked about getting lots of colors on our plates — green, yellow and red? Now, how are you going to make that happen?' First, he chose a place where healthier eating was possible, and then, he guided his children to make healthy food choices.
"Many of the risk factors that affect childhood obesity can be addressed when parents are thoughtful and take action," Dr. Osmick added. "Parents can influence their children in factors such as healthy food choices, minimizing fast foods, increasing exercise, and reducing sedentary activities, like watching TV or playing video games."
To help parents help their kids, Healthyroads offers the following tips:
1. Establish Healthy Eating Habits for the Family
- Healthy eating starts with healthy grocery shopping. When grocery shopping, choose fresh, local, unprocessed foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, and lean, fresh meats, such as fish or poultry. Teach your child to make good choices by steering clear of the candy/cookie aisle and focusing on the fresh foods aisles.
- Eat a diet low in saturated fat. Saturated fats are typically derived from animal products, such as meat, cream, cheese, butter and lard. But, some saturated fats come from vegetable products, such as coconut, cottonseed and palm kernel oil, or chocolates. Saturated fats are found in many processed foods. Low saturated fat choices include olive, peanut, canola or safflower oil, and low-fat or nonfat dairy products.
- Avoid trans fats. Trans fats are used to extend the shelf life of processed foods, such as cookies, cakes, crackers, fries and donuts. Any item that contains "hydrogenated oil" or "partially hydrogenated oil" likely contains trans fats. Instead, snack on almonds, carrots or fruit.
- Limit sugar-sweetened beverages. This includes sodas, sport drinks and juices. You can add water to juices to decrease the amount of sugar consumed. Encourage your children to drink water.
- Reduce consumption of refined carbohydrates. This includes sugars, white rice and white bread. Instead, choose whole grain substitutions like brown rice, whole grain breads.
- Eat a high-fiber diet. Fruits, vegetables and whole grains have high fiber. Higher fiber diets keep kids full longer and reduce the chanced of rapid blood sugar swings through the day.
2. Lead by Example
- Pay attention to your own habits. Children are strongly influenced by their parents' behavior, so it's important for parents to eat healthy foods.
- Serve proper portion sizes. In today's world of super-sized portions, learn to right-size foods in smaller portions. Try using smaller plates. Research shows that using a smaller plate helps diners choose smaller portions.
- Start the day with a healthy breakfast. A healthy breakfast helps fuel kids for the day, improving concentration, creativity and problem-solving skills. Healthy breakfast items can include: whole grains, such as hot or cold whole-grain cereals or oatmeal; low-fat proteins, such as tofu or egg whites; low-fat dairy, such as skim milk or low-fat yogurt; and fruits, such as berries or melons.
- Give your child healthy lunches and snacks to take to school. This may keep your child from buying unhealthy options at school.
- Don't use sugary treats as a reward. Think of other, more active rewards for good behavior or test scores. But don't eliminate all sweet treats, as it may make your child want them more. Include occasional treats in proper amounts.
3. Get Physical
- Encourage your child to participate in physical activity. Ask kids to sign up for school or community sports.
- Develop family-based activities that everyone can enjoy. Tennis, golf, biking or swimming are fun and active. Leave time for at least one hour of physical activity every day. Even a game of tag or jump rope will get the family moving and provide family bonding.
- Cut down on screen time: Limit the time spent in front of a TV or computer screen to 1-2 hours per day. If your child is under 2 years old, avoid screen time.
Changing your child's habits is the best way to avoid obesity. Give your child a head start today by getting them on the road to good health.
About Healthyroads
Healthyroads, Inc., a subsidiary of national health services company American Specialty Health Incorporated (ASH), offers a wide range of population health solutions, including: award-winning telephone-based lifestyle and health coaching programs, member engagement promotion programs, program management, health risk assessment, biometric screenings, claims analytics, risk stratification, outreach, incentive management programs, competitive group challenges, worksite wellness programs and an integrated online wellness portal, Healthyroads.com. Healthyroads offers these programs to more than 5.5 million members nationally.
About American Specialty Health Inc (ASH)
American Specialty Health Incorporated (ASH) is a national health services organization that provides fitness and exercise programs, population health solutions and specialty health care programs for health plans, insurance carriers, employer groups and trust funds. Headquartered in San Diego, with an operations center in Dallas, ASH has more than 900 employees and administers services for more than 31 million members. Additional products offered through ASH and its subsidiaries include Silver&Fit®, ExerciseRewardsTM and others. For more information about ASH, visit www.ASHCompanies.com or call 800-848-3555. Follow us on Twitter at @ASHCompanies or @Healthyroads and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/Healthyroads or at http://www.facebook.com/SilverandFit .
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