Welcome once again to the FreeTrainers.com Tip of the Week! This week we will talk about how to help overweight children. Obesity among children is very common - 1 in 5 American children are considered obese: a very alarming number! Children who are obese have a lower self confidence and will most likely grow up to be obese as adults. You, as a parent, a sibling, or even a friend, can help children overcome this problem! Here is a general guideline for what you can do to help overweight children change their lifestyles: Make Them More Active - Childhood obesity and activity levels are VERY related. Inactivity at home is often linked to inactivity everywhere else. You should try to raise your childrens' activity levels at home using very simple techniques. Watching TV is the greatest factor that takes away from a child's activeness. Limiting your child's TV time to 7 hours per week, as opposed to the 20+ hours that the average American child spend in front of the tube, will greatly reduce long, inactive periods. Be a Role Model - If both parents in a family are obese, the chances of the children being obese is a shocking 80%. You, as parents, brothers and sisters, must be supportive of the cause. Be more active, eat better, show support for your child, and that will ensure that you don't fall in that 80% group shown by statistics. Eating Less ~ and Healthier - Weight loss is achieved when total energy intake is less than the energy consumed. Eating less, combined with a more active lifestyle will help achieve optimal weight loss. Moderate the child's intake of junk food. Instead of giving them chips and chocolate to snack on, prepare a quick, healthy arrangement of fruits and vegetables. Eating an orange will reduce a child's hunger as will a chocolate bar - which one sounds like a healthier approach to snacking? Increase Movement - Physical activity is very important. Register your child in sports leagues, buy them a bike, rollerblades, etc. Instead of driving them around everywhere, encourage them to ride their bike! Have them rake leaves, walk to do errands, just make them move. When the above guidelines are followed, your child will begin to lose weight and gain self esteem. School-mates won't pick on them anymore and so their social life will improve. Remember, the early years of a person's life are usually what determines their destiny in life - you can help give them the best possible life that they deserve.