The Indiana State Department of Health is encouraging parents to talk to their kids about making healthy choices.
September is Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, and in Indiana, 31.5 percent of children between the ages of 10 and 17 are obese, according to the latest National Survey of Children’s Health. The main causes are similar to those in adults, including unhealthy eating and lack of physical activity.
The department’s INShape Indiana program offers a few tips for eating better and moving more. They say parents should teach kids to stop eating when they’re full, not when the plate’s clean. They also say not to use food as a reward, since it teaches kids to eat when they aren’t hungry. Children should also be limited in the amount of time they spend in front of screens and should have physical activity as part of their daily routine. Additionally, families are encouraged to take part in physical activities and eat healthy foods together.
For more tips, visit INShapeIndiana.org.
