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Do you know the facts surrounding kids and weight loss? Have you been fed fiction? Cut the fat and get the facts. Fruit juice is a good substitute for soda when trying to decrease caloriesFact | Fiction - FICTION. While 100% fruit juice does contain nutrients necessary for the growth and development of kids, it still contains about the same number of calories as a soda (12 oz. of either contains about 145 calories). When trying to decrease calories, water is often the best choice.
Overweight kids can be physically active.Fact | Fiction - FACT. Not only can overweight kids be physically active, but they should be physically active. All children, regardless of weight, need at least 60 minutes a day of physical activity. This can be accomplished in several segments of activity lasting 15 minutes or more throughout the day.
Parent’s eating and activity habits have no influence on their kids. Do as I say, not as I do!!Fact | Fiction - FICTION. What you do as parents has a lasting impression on your children. Children look up to their parents and strive to emulate their actions. How can you expect your children to watch less television when Mom and dad turn it on at 6 pm and keep it on until bedtime at 11 pm?
Low fat or fat free are always healthy.Fact | Fiction - FICTION. Foods naturally low in fat or fat free, like fruits and vegetables, are healthy; however, many foods processed to be low fat or fat free often have added sugar or salt to compensate for the taste. Fat free does not always mean fewer calories. Sometimes we believe this gives us license to overeat because it is fat free. That doesn’t mean there aren’t any calories and those extra calories are what tips the energy balance leading to weight gain.
It has been shown that the emotional burden of being an overweight kid is similar to kids undergoing treatment for a serious disease.Fact | Fiction - FACT. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association this past year found that overweight children have lower quality of life scores than normal weight children and similar scores to children with cancer.
Having an overweight parent means that your child is more likely to be overweight.Fact | Fiction - FACT. Having one obese parent increases a child’s odds of becoming obese by threefold, while having two obese parents increases the odds by tenfold. Having an overweight or obese parent is the #1 risk for having an overweight child. While we have known for a long time that obesity runs in families, these odds can be overcome by changing the environment in which our children live and by becoming a positive role model ourselves.
Snacking is not healthy.Fact | Fiction - FICTION. Snacking is very healthy and should be a part of every child’s diet. The problem is, we often confuse snacking to mean filling up on high-fat, high-sugar treats like cookies and candy. Snacks should be chosen from the five food groups and added to the essential nutrients needed each day. (Refer to the Food Pyramid)
Frozen and canned fruits and vegetables are just as healthy as fresh ones.Fact | Fiction - FACT. There is little difference between the nutrient content of fresh, frozen, and canned fruits and vegetables. Actually, because produce may be frozen or canned at its peak, they may contain more vitamins and minerals than fresh ones. One thing to be aware of is that many canned fruits and vegetables add salt and sugar to increase taste. Try to buy fruits canned in their own juices. Look for no-salt-added canned vegetables.
If you are trying to lose weight, skipping meals is a good way to cut calories.Fact | Fiction - FICTION. Actually, skipping meals often leads to overeating, which over time will lead to weight gain. When we skip a meal, we are then starved by the time we eat. This often causes us to eat way past the point of satiety or grabbing the first thing that comes to us, often high in fat and calories.
In order for an activity to be counted as physical you have to sweat hard and be out of breath.Fact | Fiction - FICTION. Physical activity is defined as bodily movement that increases the heart rate above normal and allows for higher energy (calorie) expenditure than normal. It can include a variety of activities and may or may not result in a hard sweat and heavy breathing.
Overweight children are likely to be overweight adults.Fact | Fiction - FACT. Overweight adolescents have a 70% chance of becoming overweight adults. Also, overweight kids are more likely to be overweight during adolescence. Overweight/obesity is not something your child will necessarily "grow out of" so you need to be proactive in determining if your child is overweight and preventing it if they are not.
Kids have to play organized sports in order to be active and healthy.Fact | Fiction - FICTION. The hour or more of physical activity recommended for children each day can be accomplished in a variety of ways, from walking the dog to playing a game of basketball in your neighborhood.
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