This time of year many people make resolutions to do something better or differently than the year previously. One of the more common resolutions is to lose weight and with today's rising childhood obesity rates, it is likely that more kids and teens resolved to lose some weight this year than ever before. While a good summer weight loss camp for teens is a great way to get that process started, there are some things you can start doing now before summer arrives.

One of easy things you can do at home is make sure children are getting enough sleep. Studies have shown that a lack of sleep can be a contributing factor in weight gain. The cycle that is created when kids stop getting ample sleep is often unending and is quite unhealthy. The cycle is predictable:

-Kid stays up late watching TV, playing video games, doing homework, etc.
-Kid does not get enough sleep, wakes up the next day tired and lacking energy
-Throughout the day, the child is reluctant to participate in activities that burn calories because they are too tired from the night before
-Child eats an unhealthy diet, often full of lots of snacks and caffeinated beverages to provide jolts of energy throughout the day
-The cycle repeats itself daily, and weight is gained

Parents need to be aware of these trends and do what they can to prevent their children from adopting this unhealthy lifestyle.

One thing that parents can do is reduce the amount of time their children spend doing "inactivities" like watching TV, playing on the computer, talking on the phone, etc. by simply placing a time limit on the amount of time the children have per day for each. The time previously spent on inactivites can now be spent on more active things which will allow them to burn more calories.

Another big key is to have your kids do their homework after school instead of after dinner. Getting homework out of the way after school will help to prevent nights where kids do not get enough sleep because they had to stay up late doing homework.

Kids are also often full of excuses when it's time to go to bed. Many times it seems like they're doing anything they can to stay out of bed. A full day of activity can help to ensure that they'll be worn out enough to be ready for bed when the time comes. After finishing homework, attempt to get your child to do something active instead of inactive. Even a game of catch with the next door neighbor on a daily basis can be beneficial when compared to an extra hour a day on the couch watching cartoons.

Finally, a well balanced dinner is key. A good, square meal will help prevent late-night snacks that are often unhealthy. A child that eats a well balanced, nutritional meal a few hours before bed will be much less likely to be raiding the pantry before bedtime or in the middle of the night.

The keys to losing weight in a healthy manner are the same for kids as they are for adults - a good diet combined with exercise. Simply, children that do not get enough sleep at night are more likely to eat poorly and less likely to get proper exercise. As a parent, you can address this issue by limiting "inactivity" time and providing well balanced dinners for your child.