health

Prevention of childhood obesity is increasingly important. The American
Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) makes the following recommendations
for parents:

• If possible, breast-feed children rather than bottle feeding them.
  
• Respect a child’s appetite; do not insist that the child finish every
  feeding or meal.
• Limit the high-calorie and sugary foods kept in the house.
  
• Provide a nutritious diet with ample fiber from fruits and
  vegetables, with no more than 30 percent of calories derived
  from fat.
  
• Do not use food as a reward or bribe a child to finish a meal by
  offering sweets.
  
• Limit the child’s television viewing or video games to no more
  than two hours per day.
  
• Encourage the child to participate in sports and other activities
  involving physical exercise (nature walks, dancing classes,
  hiking, etc.)
  
• Plan family activities around outdoor walks, bicycling trips, etc.