How Parents Can Help Their Children Win the Battle of the Bulge

While encouraging parents to focus more on portion sizes, family mealtimes and physical activity, health professionals also want help pushing for change at the national level.

Until sweeping change occurs in the food industry, in schools and in the community, “it’s parents’ responsibility to play an active role in overseeing their children’s diet, exercise opportunities and in setting a good example themselves,” says David Ludwig, M.D., Ph.D., head of the Optimal Weight for Life Program at Boston’s Children’s Hospital. “While they’re at it, they can be working on the community, state and national level for legislation that would take a sensible approach to this impending public health disaster.”

Among the things parents can do:

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  Ask school districts to ban soft-drink and high-calorie snack vending machines from school property. Some large urban school districts have actually done this. It may not be easy if schools rely on the dollars that vending machines bring in, Ludwig acknowledges. But healthy kids are a better investment in the long run.
  
  


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  Campaign at the local, state and national level for an improved school lunch program – one that puts children’s health above the profits made from dispensing surplus food.
  
  


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