Fight Child Obesity Before And After Pregnancy

The entire world knows that child obesity has become a serious problem, especially here in America. In 1980, only 6.5% of children the age of 6-11 years old were obese. In 2008, that number tripled to 19.6%! The list of health risks to child obesity seems to grow larger everyday. More and more research and studies are being performed to help reduce this number. However, there are steps a mother can take to decrease these chances of obesity while she is pregnant and immediately after.

Studies have shown that overweight parents are more likely to have overweight children. A healthy diet needs to start with you. Before even considering pregnancy, a mother needs to begin a healthy lifestyle. She should be a good weight and needs to eat properly and exercise. (A healthy woman also has a better chance at getting pregnant.) This trend needs to continue while pregnant. Your doctor will be able to tell you the correct amount of weight you should be gaining. Although you're "eating for two," remember that your baby doesn't need as much food as you do.

Try to eat a wide variety of foods because they will enter the amniotic fluid and give your baby more exposure to an assortment of food. Some good practices are to add fruit to your breakfast, plenty of vegetables to your lunch and dinner, and choose yogurt over chocolate pudding for dessert. Seafood is actually very good for your baby's development, but avoid fish that contain high amounts of mercury, such as swordfish, shark, and king mackerel. Shrimp, canned light tuna, and salmon are all safe to eat and good for your baby.

After the baby is born, try to breastfeed for as long as you can. Not only is it the healthiest choice for your baby, breast milk will help fight infections, prevent allergies, and protect against chronic conditions. Breastfeeding is recommended for at least the first six months. As your baby starts eating solid foods, it's very important to start him off on the right diet. This is a crucial time for avoiding kids obesity. Your baby needs to eat plenty of fruit and vegetables. You can even make your own baby food recipes at home. There are numerous sites online that offer great, simple recipes to make.

As your child grows, you need to instill good eating habits. Besides having your child eat healthy, make sure the entire family eats together as much as possible. Making home-cooked meals will also reduce your child's chances of becoming overweight. These first few years are so crucial to your child, not just in terms of his weight, but also his overall development. Good eating habits begin in the womb with the mother and they need to continue from the moment your child is born. If not, the task of getting your child back on a healthy track only becomes more and more difficult. For some, it'll be too late and they'll already be suffering from serious illnesses. Set an example for your children and give them a healthy, and happy, life.