Over the last number of years, there has been a steady increase in the number of young children who are overweight or obese. This can have a serious impact on children’s health, both now and in the long term. If you think your child is overweight, ask your doctor or health visitor to check your child’s weight and height on their centile chart, which can be found in their red parent-held record book.
If you are concerned about your child’s weight, ask your doctor to refer you to a paediatric dietitian. It is also a good time to look at what your child is eating and how much physical activity they are getting each day. It is recommended that children have at least 1 hour of physical activity each day, so organise trips to the park and the swimming pool.
Small children have high energy demands and need small amounts of food often. Offer snacks throughout the day, such as fruit or a slice of toast. Try to limit the amount of sweet foods your child eats, such as biscuits, sweets and chocolate. Instead, offer pieces of chopped-up fruit and veg – these contain fewer calories and contain lots more vitamins and minerals!
