How do you know if your child is obese?

1- Watch his/her weight. Find out, from a doctor or a nutritionist, what your child’s BMI should be (based on age, weight and height).

2- If you notice that your child is rapidly putting on weight, see a doctor at once.

- Children do what elders do. If you eat healthy, your children will follow suit. Reduce the oil/ghee/butter you use in cooking at least by half. It is a myth that adding extra oil to food makes it more tasty. Be firm about eating healthy and make sure the whole family follows it.

3- Include all food groups in your child’s daily diet. Consult a nutritionist if you don’t know which meals to prepare and when. A general method is to include greens in daily diet, and encourage them to snack on nuts instead of chips and vada pavs. They must also drink plenty of water. Eating seasonal fruits and vegetables is a must. Cut down on deep fried treats.

4- Discourage eating outside the home more than once a week.

5- Limit the intake of too much sugar, salt and oil. If need be, and on the consultation of your doctor, use sweeteners.

6- If the problem is acute, your child will need to include exercise in his/her daily schedule and a dedicated diet plan. Consult a reputed gym or doctor for an exercise plan and see that your child sticks to it.

7- There is an option of having your child undergo bariatric surgery to shed the excess weight, but it is not recommended for young children. Until your child is 18 years old, maintain a diet and exercise plan for your child. Once he or she is over 18 years old, and if the problem still persists, get a reputed bariatric surgeon to evaluate your child.

8- Keep your child motivated. Obese children are low on self-esteem because of the negative body image they carry in their minds about themselves, and owing to the other diseases they suffer because of obesity. Instill the idea that while it is not okay to be fat, it is not okay to aspire to mass media’s ideals of beauty as well. Your child’s ultimate goal should be to regain his/her health, not fit into a certain dress size.