Healthy Weight Guide for Kids in Fast Food World - Parenting Tips

When my child was diagnosed as obese, we looked for help everywhere and anywhere. I finally came across this book and it has become the family bible. The book starts with basic nutrition, obesity-related health problems, and then talks about how our environment has changed over the past decades to promote obesity. It then talks about a low glycemic index diet and gives a 9 week battle plan for changing eating and activity habits. Even though I am not entirely sold on the low glycemic index theory, the end result is a fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and whole foods based diet that few could argue with. The book's advice on how to increase physical activity was realistic and doable. As well as the "formal" activities like walks and playing games, it talks about the importance of frequent, short bursts of activity we all do in life, like taking the stairs, fidgeting, even chewing gum!The most valuable part of the book for me was how to instill a healthy attitude towards eating in a child. Right now, when my child is young, I can control (more or less!) what goes into his mouth. But when he gets older, the control will shift to him. How to guide him to making healthy decisions without turning him into a calorie-obsessed nervous wreck? The book addresses that by talking about modeling, supporting without dictating, and sharing of your own nutritional approach. These concepts are described in theory and then fleshed out with specific examples.The tone of this book is very sympathetic, both to the overweight kids and to their parents. In contrast to some of the other reviewers, I did not feel this was repetitive or that I was being talked-down to. I felt like I was listening to someone who finally understood what my family was going through and had a solution. The only thing that I wish this book had discussed was food cues and how to minimize them, which for my family helped a lot.