Overweight or obesity in children occurs for various reasons: due to malnutrition, genetic predisposition, low physical activity, various diseases. The reason is determined by the doctor.
The best prevention is to bring a child to dance or sports sections from early childhood, where he can communicate with peers, strengthen his health, splash out energy and avoid the problem of a sedentary lifestyle.
But what actions to take if the problem already exists?
How to get used to physical activity?
It is easier for a teenager to explain the reasons why it is necessary to lose weight. Children of primary school age can focus on their parents’ sports hobbies:
you can arrange a joint visit to the pool or tennis court;
ride bicycles or ice skates with the whole family.
Gradually, the child will join the sport and will be happy to attend the sections that he wants.
Tears, protests and resistance when visiting the circle are alarm bells when parents need to change tactics. The basis should be the love of sports.
Another option is to contact the baby with a request to help and support the parent in some kind of sport.
What kind of sport should I choose?
Parents should be guided by the age, gender and character of the child. Traditionally, girls like dancing and rhythmic gymnastics, and boys like martial arts, football, hockey.
If the baby has a calm temperament and temperament, then he may feel uncomfortable in team games. He may like children’s yoga.
A universal sport for weight loss of children is swimming. There are many advantages:
the kid overcomes the fear of water from childhood;
the body is tempered;
less chance of getting injured;
increases endurance and improves coordination;
the cardiovascular and respiratory systems are strengthened.
A common opinion, but erroneous: to enroll overweight children in active sports. A sudden load on the organs and the intensity of classes can alienate the child.
Regulate the load: despite the problems with excess weight, overloading the child’s body can aggravate the situation. The child should rest and recover not only from sports sections, but from school and stress.
A qualified trainer helps to discipline, because under his guidance it is difficult to “waddle”, and also selects exercises for weight loss. When studying in a group, he suppresses any ridicule of someone’s completeness. If the child is vulnerable, then the task of a specialist is to instill confidence in a novice athlete.
What else to consider?
- Focus on the wishes of the child: if he does not want or it is difficult for him to practice in the morning, reschedule the workout for another time. Ideally, if the sports section is located near the house, so as not to spend a lot of time on the road.
But light exercise for weight loss in the morning is always an additional plus.
- As an incentive, offer a reward for the achieved result — not necessarily edible. It can be a purchase — it’s fine if it’s a sports equipment.
- Do not speed up the weight loss process, otherwise rapid weight loss can cause other problems. Nutrition should correspond to physical exertion.
