IS YOUR CHILD OVERWEIGHT?

If you think your child is overweight, it is important to check with your child's doctor first. A doctor needs to check your child's height, weight, age and growth patterns to determine whether or not weight is a problem; some children "grow into" a normal weight later.
If your doctor finds that your child is overweight, then you would need to make some changes in your family's eating and activity habits.

By reducing your overweight child's weight gain now, or helping him lose weight by eating healthy foods and becoming active, you can lower his risk of developing several serious conditions, including :

** Diseases that can occur in childhood, including asthma, breathing problems, high blood
pressure, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, depression, liver and gallbladder diseases, sleep
apnea (cessation of breathing during sleep) and more

** Long term diseases that occur in adulthood, including cardiovascular disease (heart attack,
stroke), heart failure, respiratory problems, certain cancers, infertility and pregnancy
complications, arthritis, and higher risk of sudden death.

Your child's pediatrician can help determine if your child is overweight and which course of action you can take as a family.

Extracted from Spark People