health
better
That’s what Jazmyne did. She
enrolled in a study at Washington
University called the Treatment
Options for Type
2
Diabetes in
Adolescents and Youth and, as a result,
lost
50
pounds in one year. Her BMI is
improving, and she has lowered her
blood sugar.
To reverse unhealthy weight gain
and combat diabetes, Tanner-Blasiar
recommends that parents’ first stop
should be the pediatrician or family
doctor, who can recommend a program
similar to the one at Washington
University. Often, such programs
will include physicians, dietitians,
exercise physiologists, and psycholo-
gists who can address all facets of
weight problems.
“We aren’t looking to correct weight
overnight or just have all the weight
melt away” Tanner-Blasiar says. “It’s
heartbreaking to see a 12-year-old who
is
300
pounds or a
5
-year-old who
weighs
100
pounds. Those numbers just
shouldn’t be reported for children.
Some of the children I’ve worked with
act out in school so they’ll be suspended
so they won’t be teased in school.”
Visiting a dietitian can also help. The
first visit usually lasts an hour and will
cost $
50-$100
and may be covered by
insurance. Your child will most likely be
asked to keep a journal of what he eats
for a few days. The dietitian will review
it and develop a specific eating plan for
your family. Find a registered dietitian
in your area by visiting
eatright.org,
or
ask your family doctor for a referral.
Your whole family will benefit once
you start eating better. As Jazmyne lost
weight, her mom also lost
30
pounds,
and Jazmyne’s younger sisters began
making healthier choices. As the
pounds dropped, Jazmyne’s headaches
decreased, and she has learned to avoid
what she calls “tempting foods” in the
school cafeteria. And this past summer,
when she ran those laps during softball
practice, she usually finished first.
Now with even
more delicious ways
to stay on track.
7 C h a n g e s
Our experts share simple steps to
help kids maintain a healthy weight.
X Reduce serving sizes. That
bowl of cereal you pour in the
morning may be several servings.
That package of PopTarts? Two
servings. Small bags of chips have
two or three servings. Check the
Nutrition Facts label for correct
serving sizes.
X Don’t offer food as a reward.
Telling children that if they finish
their broccoli they can have
ice cream makes veggies seem like
the bad guy, says Dr. William H.
Dietz, director of the CDC’s
Division of Nutrition, Physical
Activity and Obesity.
X- Count all screens as T V time.
Computers, video games, and
television all should count as screen
time. Set a limit of no more than
two hours of screen time per day,
recommends Dietz. Keep a timer
handy, if needed. “While watching
television, they’re more likely to eat
high-calorie food,” Dietz says.
X- Avoid snack whining; To keep
your kids from asking for cookies
and other fattening snacks, don’t
have them in the house. “If these
foods are in the house, that sets up
the conflict of you having to say no
or having to police the stash to keep
their paws off the food,” Dietz says.
X- Decrease fat in milk. Opt for
2
percent milk or skim, says Marilyn
Tanner-Blasiar, a pediatric dietitian
at Washington University in St. Louis
and a spokesperson for the
American Dietetic Association. Aim
for three
8
-ounce servings a day.
X- Restrict access to the fridge.
“The rule in the house should be
that parents offer a food for snack
and children can decide to accept it
or not,” Dietz says. “No rummaging
through the fridge or pantry.”
X- Rinse canned fruits. Frozen or
canned fruits and vegetables are
easy to store. But many have added
sugar, adding loads of calories. Use
a strainer to wash fruit before
serving or slicing up into a recipe.
H o n e y N u t
®, TM
, © 2009 Kellogg NA Co.
BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS
NOVEMBER 2009
251
