Knowledgebase: The One Minute Pediatrician

These are short topics that Dr. Dennis wrote for use on the radio. Each topic reads in less than one minute!

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15. Over weight children - Top

Seven out of ten people in this country are over weight, and this potentially can lead to health problems such as high blood pressure and diabetes.

The main cause for overweight problems is excessive calorie intake. Endocrine or gland problems can cause excess weight but they also result in reducing height in general. If your child has a weight problem, the best approach is calorie reduction along with a reasonable amount of daily activity.

Good eating habits are the best approach and should start very young with 3 good well-rounded, [preferably family together] meals a day without second helpings. Snacks should be limited or eliminated in overweight children. Salt should be greatly reduced. Children are successful at losing weight when they are ready to do it themselves; nagging creates opposition and does not help.

The best thing you can do as a parent is to set a good example in your eating habits. - Updated: June 5, 2001

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