What Parents Should Know about Childhood Obesity

By Juan Mejia-Otero, MD, Board-certified Pediatric Endocrinologist with Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. He sees patients at the Nicklaus Children’s Pediatric Specialists at Boynton Beach location. 

If you’ve kept even a casual eye on health news in recent years, it should come as no surprise that childhood obesity is becoming an increasing concern for both parents and health experts. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly one in five American children is obese, totaling close to 15 million. Over the past 30 years, this percentage has nearly tripled, significantly increasing the risk of diabetes, heart disease and other serious health issues as these children grow older.

What You Can Do

Parents naturally worry about their children’s health and happiness but addressing weight concerns can be tricky. Luckily, there are positive strategies you can implement to help your child maintain a healthy weight.

1. Keep the focus on good health. If you need to make changes to your family’s diet and lifestyle to help with childhood obesity, the best way to keep it positive is to focus on the health benefits, such as feeling better or having more self-esteem. Using guilt or body-shaming to promote weight loss is never the way to go.
2. Make it a whole-family affair. According to a 2023 study published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition, parents who are active and eat healthy are much more likely to have children who do the same. So, if you begin adopting healthier meals and more exercise, do it as a family.
3. Keep portions in check. A major factor in American obesity is the increase in portion sizes. In reality, a serving of carbohydrates equals a slice of bread, a small apple or orange, half of a large potato or a half a cup of pasta. At home, serve smaller portions, and when dining out, consider splitting meals or using to-go boxes.
4. Set screen limits. Screens aren’t the cause of all our modern problems, but they’re certainly not helping with childhood obesity. By limiting screen time to an hour or two a day and encouraging outdoor play, you can help your kids stay active. 
5. Cut back on sugar. In addition to oversized portions, excessive sugar is a major factor in obesity. Encouraging healthier snacks like string cheese, yogurt, peanut butter, or fruit, and swapping sugary drinks for water, can go a long way in fostering healthy habits.

Dr. Juan Mejia-Otero, MD