Two Simple Steps Can Help Prevent Excess Weight Gain In Overweight Children

New study provides the first clinical evidence that overweight children can effectively prevent excessive weight gain by making small changes to their daily lifestyle. While it has long been suggested that physical inactivity and diets high in calories from sugar and fat contribute to increased childhood obesity, this study proves that simple alterations to these factors can help counter America's obesity crisis.

This family-based study showed that, over six months, 67 percent of overweight children, as defined by body mass index (BMI), maintained or reduced their percent BMI-for-age, compared to just 53% in the self-monitoring group. BMI is the most widely accepted method of classifying overweight and obesity. These results were directly linked to participation in a fun, family-based program encouraging all family members to make two, small, healthy lifestyle changes:

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