Losing weight: why the whole family needs to be involved

Disclaimer: This fact sheet is for education purposes only. Please consult with your doctor or other health professional to make sure this information is right for your child.
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• Starting a healthy lifestyle plan can be hard work although the long term benefits far outweigh the initial hard work.  If your child has been advised to lose weight there are a number of reasons why the whole family should make the changes.
• Everyone needs support to lose weight – especially kids.  They can’t do it without you.
• If everyone in the family makes healthy food choices and is more active, then it is easier to be consistent.  The kids will remind you what you should be doing!
• Kids resist changes if they feel they are being picked on.  Having different food plans for different children (unless it’s absolutely necessary) can lead to more arguments and fights.
• The food you offer and the brands you buy make a huge difference to you and your child’s health.  Consult with your dietitian when making new, healthy food choices.
• Kids  learn from your example.  When parents make changes the kids will be watching and are likely to copy Mum and Dad. That’s why it is so important for parents and carers to model healthy behaviours.
• Kids may not be motivated to lose weight and don’t have the same self control as adults.  You need to make sure that they are living in a family environment which is as healthy as possible.  Even adults find it hard to resist “treat” foods if they are easy to get hold of. So to make things easier, keep tempting food such as cakes, biscuits, soft drinks and chocolate away from the house and stock up with healthy foods and snacks instead (refer to healthy snacks options fact sheet).
• If someone in the family doesn’t want to give up their unhealthy treats then get advice on healthy snacks which are also delicious.
• One area where the whole family often needs help is “screentime” (watching television, DVDs, playing electronic games or using the internet etc).  Role model healthy behavior by having family rules about how much “screentime” each person has every day, ideally limiting “screentime” to less than 2 hours a day.
• Being active helps lose weight and keep weight under control. A child should be active outside for at least 60 minutes a day. To encourage activity, do things together as a family such as family walks, bike rides or picnics at the weekend.