Pediatricians offer updated guidance on preventing obesity

Elk Grove Village, IL – It’s never too early to take measures to help prevent your children from becoming obese, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Updated guidance from the academy offers tips for families and pediatricians for healthier eating and getting more exercise. Tips include the following:

• Tell children to eat at least five servings of fruit and vegetables daily.
• Buy fewer high-calorie snacks, sweets and sugary drinks.
• Make healthy food available by putting it in places such as the kitchen table, counter or front of the refrigerator.
• Be more active.

AAP also recommends keeping TVs out of bedrooms and the kitchen and making sure children get enough sleep, noting that kids who sleep fewer than nine hours are more likely to be overweight or obese.

Families can exercise together through activities such as bowling or visiting a park or playground to reach the recommended daily amount of 60 minutes of activity.

The guidance was published online June 29 in the journal Pediatrics.