Health Watch is a Public Service of the Office of News and Publications and is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. You should contact your physician if you have questions about any of these topics.
This week on "Healthwatch," we're addressing the problem of overweight children and teens. Parents have to strike a delicate balance between helping their children build a healthy body image and helping them build a healthy body. Too much emphasis on weight and dieting can be a problem, but so can ignoring the issue completely and letting children become seriously overweight and stay that way.
Nutrition experts at UT Southwestern Medical Center say the first step to helping an overweight child lose weight is figuring out how the child became overweight in the first place. Look at the child's eating habits - the types of foods and the amounts they eat. Also, do they eat a lot on the run or in front of the television? Does your family sit down for meals or rely on fast food? Also look at exercise habits - does your child get some kind of exercise on a regular basis?
Next time on "Healthwatch": Changes you can help your kids make in order to lose weight.
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Jan. 2005
Health Watch is heard Monday through Friday nationwide on the "Stardust" format of ABC Satellite Radio. Call your local radio station and ask if they carry the program.
