If you have an overweight child, chances are good that their activity level is well below what it should be.  One of the biggest contributing factors to a more inactive lifestyle among today's youth is our growing use and dependence on technology.  With nearly 20% of America's youth being overweight, something must be done.  At our weight loss camps for teens, we promote a healthy and active lifestyle, but we also have the luxury of being separated from a lot of the technology that contributes to the problem.  While at home, here are some things for parents to be aware of that lead to their children not getting enough exercise and gaining weight as a result.

First and foremost, it is important to be aware that all kids are different.  Some simply enjoy indoor activities like reading and coloring more than playing outside.  This is not necessarily bad.  If your child fits this bill, do not keep them from the things they enjoy, but try to make the activity more active.  For example, if they like to draw, have them hike to a pretty place and then sit down and draw a picture of it.

Self-esteem also plays a role in not being active enough.  Some children are afraid that they are no good at certain activities and make excuses not to participate or ignore them outright.  Finding things they enjoy is key here.

Schoolwork and computer time is another thing to consider.  Many kids these days have hours of homework every night, which takes time away from other activities.  Teaching your kids effective study habits to make their study time more efficient is a good way to free up some of this time.

At the same time, parents also play a role in their children being less active than they should.  For example, some parents punish kids by forcing them to stay inside the house for weeks at a time.

Another way that parents contribute to their children's inactivity is by allowing them to have a TV or computer in their bedroom.  While this may help maintain peace in the living room, it also encourages your child to spend time in their room sitting around.

Finally, parents must remember to lead by example.  If the adults in a child's life spend all of their time watching TV, chances are good that their children will grow up with the same habits.  The more active you are, the more likely your child is to get involved in some of the things you do.

Addressing all these issues at once is hard for a parent to do and can cause more problems than it solves.  If you find all of the above to be representative of your child's lifestyle, you may want to consider a weight loss camp as a stepping-off point for your child's weight loss.  After spending time at a camp, the changes at home will seem less extreme and will be much more likely to have long-term results.

The goal of a weight loss camp is to show kids how to live healthily and show them that many of the activities they thought were no fun or that they were no good at can be enjoyed.  Your child will also receive the professional and peer-based emotional support that they need.