Helping Children Lose Weight Without Losing Their Self-Esteem

1. Identify the Problem

Kids today are in an uphill battle against obesity. As the number of video games, television channels, and fast-food restaurants increases, so do their waistlines. Adults know how hard it is to diet and keep the weight off. Asking a child to do it in the face of birthday cake and junk food at school can be an even tougher proposition. Jennifer Trachtenberg, MD, a pediatrician and the author of Good Kids, Bad Habits: The RealAge Guide to Raising Healthy Children, says that rather than putting your child on a weight-loss program, it will be more effective to create healthy habits for the entire family to follow. Getting the whole family involved will help keep your child motivated and her self-esteem intact. Get started by using Dr. Trachtenberg's Four I method:

This one is easy: Identify the problem. You want to help your child lose weight.