| The latest figures released in the US
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| | an hour - is no longer an option!
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| state that 15 percent of children and
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| | * Parents are often setting a bad example
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| teenagers are now considered overweight,
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| | * Children no longer walk or cycle to
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| up from 6% 20 years ago. Statistics in
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| | school - or much at all! Outdoor
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| the UK are similar, and rising. Whilst
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| | activities are much less a part of their
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| children starve in Africa, kids in the
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| | lives than in previous generations
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| Western world are lining up to suffer a
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| | * Spare time is spent on more sedentary
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| frightening array of weight-related
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| | pursuits, such as television, computers
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| illnesses, including skin and joint
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| | and video games, and even "texting". The
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| problems, early osteoporosis, type II
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| | latest figures suggest that the average
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| diabetes, bowel cancer, high blood
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| | American teenager spends a horrifying 4
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| pressure, heart attack and strokes.
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| | to 5 hours a day watching television!
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| Recent research also suggests that obese
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| | How can we help our overweight child to
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| kids are 77% more likely to suffer from
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| | lose weight?
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| asthma.
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| | Firstly, it is important to be aware that
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| And of course in a world where TV,
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| | there is no magic formula and no instant
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| movies, teenage sitcoms and advertising
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| | solution. Your child will not be fit,
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| all promote the ideal image and the "fat
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| | healthy and the perfect weight overnight!
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| kid" is often mocked and made the butt of
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| | If, however, your child eats sensibly and
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| all the jokes, many overweight children
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| | healthily and increases their physical
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| will increasingly suffer from lack of
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| | activities, they will "grow into" their
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| confidence and poor self-esteem, leading
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| | weight.
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| to isolation and possibly depression in
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| | Secondly, it is vital that any approach
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| their teenage years.
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| | you choose does not make your child feel
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| Why do the numbers of overweight children
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| | different, guilty, victimised or unhappy
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| keep going up?
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| | in any way. Young children who worry
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| * Portion sizes - at school, restaurants
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| | about their weight grow into teenagers
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| and home - keep growing
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| | with eating disorders.
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| * Children have far more choice in what
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| | Thirdly, remember that by "banning" any
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| they eat (previous generations ate what
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| | foods you are likely to create rebellious
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| they were given, or went hungry)
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| | feelings even in younger children, and
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| * Food is much more easily available
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| | disobeying your dictates may even turn
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| * Kids' drinks, fizzy drinks and
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| | into a game (or worse, a shameful
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| so-called "sports" drinks abound
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| | secret). You are never going to be able
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| * Many snack foods and junk foods are
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| | to totally prevent a child from eating
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| specially targeted at kids, advertised to
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| | what he likes. If you forbid chocolate in
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| kids on TV, of little nutritional value,
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| | your own house, for example, you can be
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| and far from "filling". Some
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| | sure your child will be eating it at
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| nutritionists even suspect that chemical
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| | friends' houses or at school if he gets
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| additives can make your child crave more
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| | half the chance!
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| of particular foods
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| | Parts 2, 3, 4 and 5 of this article
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| * Fast food outlets have proliferated in
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| | suggest many ideas, tips and tactics for
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| recent years and provide cheap, easy
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| | tackling the issues an overweight child
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| meals for time-stretched parents
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| | faces and encouraging gentle and
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| * Kids expect "instant gratification" in
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| | effective weight loss without damaging
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| many areas of their lives, including
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| | your child's self esteem.
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| food. Living with hunger pangs - even for
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