Studies have shown that not getting enough sleep can be a contributing factor to weight gain and both children and adults.  The problem with a lack of sleep is the cycle that it creates.  For children, it goes something like this:

• Child stays up late watching TV, playing video games, doing homework, etc.
• Child wakes up the following day without enough rest
• Child spends the next day with low energy levels, leading to inactive lifestyle because they are tired
• Child does not get enough exercise for the day, leading to weight gain
• Child has energy left over at night because they didn’t exercise, so they stay up late again….

This cycle can be detrimental to proper health as it will continue to repeat itself.  Toss in some unhealthy eating habits, and you have a road map for successfully gaining weight.  As responsible parents, we need to ensure that our children do not get stuck in this cycle.  At our summer weight loss camps, we do our part to make sure campers get enough rest at night and burn plenty of energy throughout the day.

At home, parents can start with some easy solutions.  Limit the amount of time kids spend doing “inactivities” like watching TV and playing on the computer.  A TV/computer/video game “cut off” time in the evening is a simple way to keep kids from staying up late doing these things.

Homework is also a common culprit of late bedtimes.  The easiest way to curb this problem is to have your kids work on their homework as soon as they get home.  They will have it out of the way when bed time rolls around, allowing them to get proper rest.  It might also help their grades when they’re not rushing to complete assignments late at night.

Dealing with excuses for not going to bed is another common problem.  Once bed time approaches, kids have a habit of suddenly needing a drink of water, a shower, or anything else that will allow them to stay up later.  The first step in combatting this issue is to make sure these things are taken care of earlier in the night.  You can also help get your kids ready for bed by making sure they get some activity during the day.  Give them some time to play outside or get them involved in extra curricular activities that take place after school where they will get some exercise.

Finally, a well balanced meal at dinner time will also help.  A square meal a few hours before bed will reduce late night snack cravings that are normally not healthy choices.

The simple fact is that the factors that contribute to weight loss in adults are nearly the same in children – proper diet and exercise.  Children that do not get enough sleep at night are less likely to get proper exercise the following day, which can lead to weight gain.  As a parent, you can learn from the strategies used at weight loss camps to proactively address these problems by limiting inactivity time, making sure homework is completed early, forcing them to get some exercise, and serving healthy meals.

As a parent, you’re likely very concerned with the health of your child. If you’re afraid that your child is too overweight, your concerns are justified. The number of overweight children has dramatically increased in recent years and the health consequences (physical and mental) are becoming worse. Diabetes, Heart Disease, and Sleep Apnea are just a few of the potentially life threatening conditions now being found more commonly in obese children. As a responsible parent, you must take action to help solve any weight problems your children have before things get worse. You can solicit the help of professionals at our teen weight loss camps, but before you get that far, here are a few things you can do to determine if your child really has a weight problem.

In children, being classified as “overweight” is defined as having a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 25. BMI is calculated using a child’s height and weight. If you know these numbers, a quick online search should point you in the direction of several calculators. It’s probably best to use a few different sources to ensure you get an accurate calculation. Additionally, it is worth noting that some children naturally have a higher than average BMI, especially very athletic kids who have a lot of muscle mass. Keep that in mind before drawing any conclusions – you should know if your kid falls in to this category.

If you determine that your child is indeed clinically overweight, your next step is to consider your child’s history. Is this additional weight relatively new or has your child always had weight issues? You can look at past medical records if you have them to calculate their BMI from past years. Many kids follow a growth curve that is healthy but is either higher or lower than other kids their age. Looking at your child’s past can assist here. If they have followed a healthy growth path without any big jumps, they may be just fine. However, if a recent weight gain (or one several years ago) was bigger than usual for your kid, you likely have a problem that needs to be addresses. These large weight gains are commonly associated with prolonged periods of inactivity.

Next, begin thinking about what may have led to rapid gains in weight. Unhealthy diet and lack of exercise are the most common culprits, but often emotional disturbances trigger these events. Diet and exercise are the keys to losing weight, but we all know that getting a kid to go on a diet and change their routine to be more active is much easier said than done. This is where a summer fitness camp can be incredibly effective. Kids can get away from their daily routine and have an opportunity to develop new, good habits that they can then transition back to home once they are more comfortable with a better diet and more exercise.

Finally, make sure that this evaluation process is done rationally. If your family is made up of a bunch of incredibly skinny people and your kid just happens to be a bit bigger than is average for your genes, they could still be completely healthy and jumping to conclusions could be more detrimental than beneficial. If you have questions, do not hesitate to contact a professional. When dealing with obesity and the potential negative health effects, it is always better to be safe than sorry. The keys to making changes for the better are support from family and friends and avoiding drastic changes that kids will naturally resist. Again, a weight loss camp can be extremely beneficial in providing a supportive environment full of professionals who will ensure your child loses weight safely and has fun while they do it. If your kid learns to hate healthy living, any changes made in the short term will not last.