Kids develop extra body fat when they eat more calories than they burn off through physical activity. Being overweight or obese increases kids’ likelihood of developing health problems such as asthma, heart disease, diabetes and sleep apnea. However, kids with excess belly fat may be at even greater risk of developing health problems. Fortunately, you may be able to treat or prevent excess belly fat in your own kids by instituting healthy habits for your family.
Step 1
Turn off the TV, video games and computer after two hours. Because most kids’ natural instinct is to play, they will be more likely to engage in physical activity if they don’t have easy access to tempting sedentary activities. When your kids are in front of the TV, don’t allow snacking in front of the screen and motivate them to stand up and move around during commercial breaks. If you have a child age 2 or under, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends holding off on TV time until the preschool years.
Step 2
Encourage at least one hour of outdoor play per day. Belly fat burns off better through daily moderate-intensity exercise than with any other method. Your kids may naturally get in at least an hour of active play if they aren’t cooped up inside watching TV, but it is also possible that your kids are into sedentary activities such as reading and drawing. Motivate your kids to play outside by investing in fun outdoor equipment such as a jungle gym, bikes, trikes, jump ropes and balls. Additionally, join in on the fun by setting up family games of catch, tag and basketball.
Step 3
Encourage strength-building exercise. Strength-building exercises not only boost kids’ balance and body awareness, but also help them build muscle, which burns calories at a faster rate than fat does. Kids as young as 6 to 8 years old may begin doing simple strength-building activities such as pull-ups and push-ups as long as they are developmentally ready to follow instructions and focus on proper technique, according to the American Council on Exercise. With constant help and supervision, encourage them to do 10 to 15 repetitions of seven to eight simple exercises two or three times per week. Consult a coach or certified trainer for extra assistance if you feel ill-equipped to instruct your kids.
Step 4
Prepare nutritious meals. Kids can gain excess belly fat when they eat too many saturated and trans fats and don’t eat enough fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Buy enough produce to supply your kids with their five-a-day of fruits and vegetables, include a whole grain such as brown rice or whole grain bread with each meal and serve low-fat or skim dairy products.
Step 5
Offer ready-to-eat healthy snacks such as apple wedges, low-fat string cheese and peanut butter on celery. Kids are apt to snack on candy bars and soda to curb mid-day hunger pangs if soda and candy are available in the pantry and refrigerator. However, you will save them from consuming empty calories and help them meet their daily nutritional needs if you ensure that none of their snack options has come from the junk food aisle.
Things You'll Need
Timer
Active toys such as bikes and balls
Fruits
Whole grains
Vegetables
Low-fat dairy
Polyunsaturated fats such as fish and walnuts
Exercise mat
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