Today's Headlines

“Mom, can I have a triple-scoop ice cream cone, pretty please?” If you answered yes to this question, you might be teaching your child portion distortion. A study, published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, adds support to the recommendation of offering kids smaller-sized servings. Researchers from Pennsylvania State University served five-year-old kids small, medium, and large portions of macaroni and cheese. The more macaroni and cheese the five-year-olds were offered, the more they ate.

Whopping portion sizes are a huge culprit in why people overeat, but if you teach your children about appropriate portion sizes, they may be more likely to stick to healthy portions into adulthood.

Here are a few tips on how you can help your child downsize their portions and get a better value on her health:

Kids Love Magic, so be an Illusionist!
Marketers have created jumbo-sized cups and plates to match the portions we are accustomed to seeing in restaurants. Dinner plates have increased in size from a standard 10-inch to 12-inch and larger, so today normal portions look miniscule on a larger plate. The solution is to put meals on smaller plates so that the portion appears larger.

Divide and Conquer Portion Distortion
Divide snacks into small portions, instead of sending your child off to snack with the whole bag. Remember those five-year-olds who ate more macaroni and cheese based on being offered larger portions, well the same rule applies here.

Out of Sight, Out of Mind
Serve food away from the table, which may limit family members from going back for seconds. Plate the food and leave the serving bowls off the table because, typically, when food is within reach, we eat more and it has nothing to do with hunger but because it tastes good or because it is in front of us.

Add Healthy 'Extras' to Your Meals
When you boost the proportion of fruits, vegetables, and herbs in your dishes, you naturally cut calories while adding nutrition and flavor. Fruit and vegetables have a high fiber and water content and therefore you can eat a larger, more filling portion without lots of calories.

It’s a long-honored tradition: several times a year, parents receive report cards showing how their children have done academically. However, with continuing increases in childhood obesity rates, school districts and states across the country have been increasingly considering a new type of parental notification: the BMI report card.

BMI, short for body mass index, is a way of measuring weight relative to height. BMI is calculated by taking a person’s weight (in kilograms) and dividing it by height (in meters) squared. Among adults, a BMI of 18 to 24.9 is normal, 25 to 29.9 is overweight and above 30 obese. Because children grow and develop, absolute cut points can’t be used in pediatrics. Instead, a BMI between the 85th and 95th percentile is considered overweight, and above the 95th percentile obese.

Of course, individuals differ in relative amounts of fat and lean tissue. A teenager engaging in regular, intense physical activities may have a high BMI due to extra muscle. However, for the vast majority, BMI is a good measure of weight status and risk for obesity-related conditions.

The health effects of childhood obesity and high BMI are well-known: excess pounds can lead to heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, asthma and sleep apnea, among other serious health problems in adulthood.

Therefore, these school- sponsored messages may give parents a needed reality check. As previously discussed here at Red Light, Green Light, Eat Right, parents of overweight children often believe their children are at a healthy weight, even though almost one third of kids are actually overweight or obese.

Although, some critics question the government's place in getting involved in something as personal as weight, efforts to deal with the problem may be more effective in childhood than any other time in life. For these reasons, BMI reports cards make sense.

The next time you get a BMI report card, first give serious consideration to whether your family needs to improve their eating habits and increase their physical activity level. If your child’s BMI percentile is already high, or climbing fast, discuss the issue with your pediatrician or make an appointment with a childhood obesity program, like Red Light, Green Light, Eat Right.

Parents are encouraged to share this information with their child's doctor, who can help interpret the results and make recommendations.

To start, here are some tips to help kids maintain a healthy weight:
Encourage kids to be active every day. Experts recommend that kids get 60 minutes or more of physical activity on most — preferably all — days of the week.
Offer fruits and vegetables at meals and snacks
Serve appropriate portion sizes.
Limit sugar-sweetened beverages and offer low-fat milk or water instead.
Limit time spent in front of a screen, including TV and computers, to less than 2 hours a day.
Set a good example by eating healthy, being physically active, and limiting the time you spend in front of a screen.

I am amazed at the talents and abilities of my children. I have a creative one, an entertaining one, an athletic one, a cute one and of course the kid who constantly surprises me, the smart one.

I love them all and try my best not to compare them to each other. However, when I talk about Parrot around Goose she gets jealous and upset. I am sorry but he is only three and he blows my mind every single day. In fact it terrifies me. Read More


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Even in the cold winter months the sun's rays can cause skin damage and lead to skin cancer so it is important to protect yourself all year long.

The sun produces two types of harmful rays; UVA rays and UVB rays. UVA rays can pass through objects such as windows and even your clothing. Too much exposure to UVA rays can damage your top layer of skin and even reach your dermis. The dermis is a thick layer of skin that is designed to hold in moisture and maintain flexible skin. If the dermis is damaged by UVA rays it can cause wrinkles and saggy skin.

The second type of harmful rays produced by the sun are UVB rays. Sunburns and skin cancer are caused by UVB rays. These rays are stronger in the summer months although, you can still get sunburns if you are outside without protection in the winter months. The SPF or Sun Protection Factor, on sunscreens indicate how much protection you will receive from UVB rays only. This is why it is important to chose a sunscreen that states that it will protect you from both UVB and UVA rays.


Spending too much time outside in the sun without using sunscreen can lead to permanent skin damage, including skin cancer. Your skin may also look old and wrinkled if it is damaged by the sun. Make sure you apply sunscreen or lotion with an SPF protection before you spend time outside no matter what the season. You should also reapply your sunscreen every 15-20 minutes of sun exposure.

Eucerin and The Healthy Moms Magazine want you to have healthy beautiful skin. Using Eucerin's Everyday Protection Body Lotion and Everyday Protection Face Lotion on a daily basis will protect your skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays. These lotions are clinically proven to moisturize and protect your skin from everyday sun exposure. Fragrance free and non-greasy Eucerin's Everyday Protection body and face lotions are safe to use even on the most sensitive skin.

The Healthy Moms Magazine readers are encouraged visit Eucerin on Facebook to find out how to obtain a free sample of their Everyday Protection Body Lotion. You can also purchase a bottle at your local pharmacy or discount store

*Disclosure: I received a bottle of Eucerin Everyday Protection Body Lotion and Everyday Protection Face Lotion in exchange for this review. All opinions are accurate and 100% mine.



About This Author

Cascia Talbert is a busy blogger, publisher, freelance writer, online merchant and mother of five children, (one of whom is gifted) living in The Pacific Northwest. With a B.A. in history and law and a passion for writing and staying healthy, she started The Healthy Moms Magazine in 2007. The Healthy Moms Magazine is currently ranked the top health blog for moms and features several health expert writers and mom bloggers. Ms. Talbert believes that if mothers are well educated on health issues and how to stay healthy, they can pass that information down to their children and reverse the childhood obesity statistics in the U.S.

Ms. Talbert is a featured health blogger at Wellsphere.com and her articles can also be found on ezinearticles.com. She also runs the Healthy Moms Social Network on Ning, manages Mom's Natural Health and Wellness Shop, and is on the Social Media Advisory Board for America's Wellness Challenge.


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Our body’s metabolism seems to favor calories from unprocessed foods -- such as whole grains, fresh fruits and veggies according to a fascinating study cited in April’s Cooking Light magazine. The study done last year by a professor of nutrition at Kansas State University found that not all calories may be equal: "The body may burn calories from whole foods better than it does calories from processed foods like Twinkies." Therefore, eating whole foods versus processed foods may actually give your metabolism a nice boost!

The researchers fed people two meals with the exact same number of calories; the only difference was how much the food was processed. Group A was given sandwiches made with real cheese on whole-grain bread; Group B made do with processed cheese on fiber-stripped white bread. The results, published in Food & Nutrition Research, found that the processed meal decreased the rate of diet-induced thermogenesis—the number of calories you burn when eating and digesting—by nearly 50% compared to the meal made with whole foods.

Here’s some whole food or thought: While the calories burned from a single sandwich may be small, this rise in metabolism caused by whole foods might account for about 10% of a typical person’s daily calorie expenditure. In other words, eating whole foods versus processed foods could mean the difference between losing or gaining approximately ten pounds in one year, respectively!

Balancing energy in and energy out is critical to solving the obesity crisis, but calorie counting can be tedious and is most likely not the real answer. A better approach is the whole foods approach, because Americans also need to increase intake of a long list of nutrients, including fiber, potassium, calcium, and vitamin D, which are associated with whole foods. Eating more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains delivers those nutrients in a form that may also hold a calorie-burning advantage.

Take the lead from Red Light, Green Light, Eat Right, which encourages fruits and vegetables at every meal with an emphasis on choosing whole foods. So, put away those processed chips, and choose an apple or some strawberries instead!

About This Author


Joanna Dolgoff, M.D. is a Pediatrician, Child Obesity Expert, and Author of Red Light, Green Light, Eat Right (Rodale, 2009). Dr. Dolgoff’s child and adolescent weight loss program (http://www.DrDolgoff.com) has been featured on WABC News, WNBC News, Fox 5 Morning Show, My9 News, and WPIX News. She has also filmed pieces with The Today Show and Extra, is an official blogger for the Huffington Post, and is the official doctor for Camp Shane, the nation’s largest weight loss camp. Children from 45 different states are losing weight with Dr. Dolgoff’s online weight loss program (http://www.DrDolgoff.com).
Dr. Dolgoff attended Princeton University and the NYU School of Medicine and completed her Pediatric Residency at the Columbia Presbyterian Children’s Hospital of New York. She is a Board-Certified Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and a former certified fitness instructor. Dr. Dolgoff resides in Roslyn, NY with her husband and two children, ages 4 and 7.

For years, we’ve been told to drink eight glasses of water a day. The eight-glass recommendation is based on the standard 2,000 calorie diet. The idea is that for every calorie burned, people should drink 1 milliliter of water- and 2,000 milliliters is the equivalent of eight cups. However, when it comes to children, their calorie intake and activity level varies, therefore, eight glasses of water might be appropriate for some, but not for others. The question is how much water is right to keep your child well hydrated? Don’t sweat it, read further to find out!

No Sweat
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that children drink six glasses of water on an average day. During activity, however, your child can lose up to a half-liter of fluid per hour. The AAP suggests about 5 ounces (or two kid-size gulps) of water or a sports drink every 20 minutes for an 88-pound child. Kids and teens weighing about 132 pounds should drink 9 ounces.

Be Ahead of the Game
Don't wait until your child is thirsty to offer refreshment; by that time he or she is already dehydrated. Symptoms of dehydration for kids can include fatigue, dry lips and tongue, extremely flushed cheeks, no urination and sunken eye sockets.
Three studies by the University of Connecticut found that more than half of the children at sports camps were significantly dehydrated despite the availability of water and sports drinks and the encouragement to drink liquids.

Get your child in the habit early on by scheduling frequent beverage breaks during activity, about every 20 minutes or so in hot weather. Another tactic in keeping kids well hydrated is to make a healthy beverage and snack part of the after-activity celebration or cool down. Toast the efforts or success of the team to encourage your little athletes to drink the necessary quantities for good health.


You Can Bring a Child to the Water…
Studies have shown that children routinely prefer flavored beverages to plain water and will drink up to 90 percent more when it is offered to them. Sports drinks also replace electrolytes lost from the body through sweating. Such beverages should be limited to use during athletic competitions or active play on a hot day, as they are generally high in carbohydrates and calories. Hydrating can include beverages and foods besides water, such as 100% fruit juice and low fat milk. However, if your goal is weight loss you should avoid soda, juice and sport drinks that are high in calories. Sports drinks were designed for elite athletes who need to replenish calories and electrolytes quickly.

When choosing drinks for kids, avoid those that have caffeine, such as iced tea or many sodas. As a diuretic, caffeine can contribute to the dehydration process by increasing fluid loss. In addition, as a stimulant, it can depress the symptoms of dehydration.

Children can also quench their thirst and keep cool with ice pops. Make your own by mixing 100 percent juice with water. Or offer fruits with a high water content, like melons, peaches, and grapes; the vitamins and minerals are a bonus!

About This Author

Joanna Dolgoff, M.D. is a Pediatrician, Child Obesity Expert, and Author of Red Light, Green Light, Eat Right (Rodale, 2009). Dr. Dolgoff’s child and adolescent weight loss program (http://www.DrDolgoff.com) has been featured on WABC News, WNBC News, Fox 5 Morning Show, My9 News, and WPIX News. She has also filmed pieces with The Today Show and Extra, is an official blogger for the Huffington Post, and is the official doctor for Camp Shane, the nation’s largest weight loss camp. Children from 45 different states are losing weight with Dr. Dolgoff’s online weight loss program (http://www.DrDolgoff.com).
Dr. Dolgoff attended Princeton University and the NYU School of Medicine and completed her Pediatric Residency at the Columbia Presbyterian Children’s Hospital of New York. She is a Board-Certified Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and a former certified fitness instructor. Dr. Dolgoff resides in Roslyn, NY with her husband and two children, ages 4 and 7.

April is Autism awareness month. The Healthy Moms Magazine would like to answer all of your questions regarding Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).

According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),"It is estimated that between 1 in 80 and 1 in 240 with an average of 1 in 110 children in the United States have an ASD."

Approximately 13 percent of American children have some kind of disability including Autism Spectrum Disorders.

What is Autism?

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a group of developmental disabilities that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges. People with ASDs handle information in their brain differently than other people. These disorders can range from mild to severe.

There are three classifications of ASDs.

A child with Classic Autism will have significant language and speech delays along with severe social and communication challenges, an intellectual disability and unusual behaviors and interests.

Asperger Syndrome is a milder form of Autism. Children with Asperger's might have social challenges and unusual behaviors and interests. However, they typically do not have problems with language or intellectual disability.

Children who meet some of the criteria for autistic disorder or Asperger syndrome, but not all, may be diagnosed with Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS). These kids usually have fewer and milder symptoms than those with autistic disorder. The symptoms may only cause social and communication challenges.

If you believe that your child may have an Autism Spectrum Disorder here are some symptoms to look for:

A child with an ASD may:

• Not respond to their name by 12 months
• Not point at objects to show interest (point at an airplane flying over) by 14 months
• Not play "pretend" games (pretend to "feed" a doll) by 18 months
• Avoid eye contact and want to be alone
• Have trouble understanding other people's feelings or talking about their own feelings
• Have delayed speech and language skills
• Repeat words or phrases over and over (echolalia)
• Give unrelated answers to questions
• Get upset by minor changes
• Have obsessive interests
• Flap their hands, rock their body, or spin in circles
• Have unusual reactions to the way things sound, smell, taste, look, or feel

If your child displays any of the above symptoms you should have him screened for Autism. There isn't a cure for Autism, however, diagnosing the disorder early will help you and your child get the help and resources needed.

Children under the age of three can be screened at a well child visit with their pediatrician. States also offer free evaluations through the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities. Parents can call this number 1-800-695-0285 to find out how to get a free evaluation from their state. If your child is over the age of three the best option is to contact your local school district for details on how to get her screened.

Even though there isn't a cure for Autism Spectrum Disorders treatment is available. Early intervention services help children from birth to 3 years old (36 months) learn important skills including better ways to communicate, how to walk and interact with others. Your child's doctor may also recommend diet changes or prescribe medication. It is very important to discuss your child's symptoms with her doctor right away if you believe she may have an Autism Spectrum Disorder.

This article has been brought to you by UbiCare, the first healthcare content marketplace. For more information visit UbiCare at ubicare.com.

About this author:



About This Author

Cascia Talbert is a busy blogger, publisher, freelance writer, online merchant and mother of five children, (one of whom is gifted) living in The Pacific Northwest. With a B.A. in history and law and a passion for writing and staying healthy, she started The Healthy Moms Magazine in 2007. The Healthy Moms Magazine is currently ranked the top health blog for moms and features several health expert writers and mom bloggers. Ms. Talbert believes that if mothers are well educated on health issues and how to stay healthy, they can pass that information down to their children and reverse the childhood obesity statistics in the U.S.

Ms. Talbert is a featured health blogger at Wellsphere.com and her articles can also be found on ezinearticles.com. She also runs the Healthy Moms Social Network on Ning, manages Mom's Natural Health and Wellness Shop, and is on the Social Media Advisory Board for America's Wellness Challenge.




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As America’s population becomes more and more overweight, people may develop a distorted perception of what is deemed a healthy weight. This is precisely what USA Today reported on when revealing the results from a recent study performed at Columbia University Medical Center in New York.

Researchers asked 111 women and 111 children questions about their age, income and body size, and also measured their height and weight. They were asked to identify their body shapes based on silhouettes representing underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obesity. Researchers found that many overweight mothers and their offspring were not as svelte as they thought:

• 82 percent of obese mothers and 43 percent of overweight mothers underestimated their weight.
• 86 percent of overweight or obese children underestimated their weight, while only 15 percent of normal-sized kids did.
• 48 percent of mothers of obese or overweight children thought their children's weight was normal.
• 13 percent of normal-weight mothers underestimated their weight.
  

These findings imply that those who are most affected by obesity are either unaware or underestimate their true weight. The study data show the need for health-care providers to educate patients about the dangers of excess body weight. Strategies to overcome the obesity epidemic will need to address body image misperception.

Parents may not have "weight management" on their minds as they look at their active, yet overweight kids. This is why at Red Light, Green Light, Eat Right, parents are educated on identifying overweight children. This is extremely important as overweight children are at risk of developing serious health problems once reserved for adults, like Type II diabetes and heart disease. Early intervention is key, before a child’s nutritional and exercise habits are set and when it's easier for them to lose weight.

About This Author

Joanna Dolgoff, M.D. is a Pediatrician, Child Obesity Expert, and Author of Red Light, Green Light, Eat Right (Rodale, 2009). Dr. Dolgoff’s child and adolescent weight loss program (http://www.DrDolgoff.com) has been featured on WABC News, WNBC News, Fox 5 Morning Show, My9 News, and WPIX News. She has also filmed pieces with The Today Show and Extra, is an official blogger for the Huffington Post, and is the official doctor for Camp Shane, the nation’s largest weight loss camp. Children from 45 different states are losing weight with Dr. Dolgoff’s online weight loss program (http://www.DrDolgoff.com).
Dr. Dolgoff attended Princeton University and the NYU School of Medicine and completed her Pediatric Residency at the Columbia Presbyterian Children’s Hospital of New York. She is a Board-Certified Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and a former certified fitness instructor. Dr. Dolgoff resides in Roslyn, NY with her husband and two children, ages 4 and 7.

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Women today are faced with extremely busy lives:

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Then, as if that's not enough, our bodies don't always seem to cooperate, as hormonal changes that come...

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The word has been out for a while that lack of sleep can mess with weight loss and weight management, but get this: According to a small study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, when dieters in the study got a full night's sleep, they lost the same amount of weight as when they slept less. When dieters got adequate sleep, however, more than one half of the weight they lost was fat. When they cut back on their sleep, only one fourth of their weight loss came from fat.


Participants were placed on an individualized, balanced diet, with calories restricted to 90% of what each person needed to maintain his or her weight without exercise. Each participant was studied twice: once for 14 days in the laboratory with an 8.5-hour period set aside for sleep, and once for 14 days with only 5.5 hours for sleep. Cutting back on sleep appears to compromise efforts to lose fat through dieting.

Getting adequate sleep also helped control the dieters' hunger. When sleep was restricted, dieters produced higher levels of ghrelin, a hormone that triggers hunger and reduces energy expenditure. Higher ghrelin levels have been shown to reduce energy expenditure, stimulate hunger and food intake, and promote retention of fat.

Aside from lack of sleep, rumor also has it that by not eating after a certain time of night, you'll lose weight. However, it's not necessarily the time cut-off that will rid you of the pounds. Calories count. Whether you eat them at 9 a.m. or 9 p.m., a calorie is still a calorie. However, if you give yourself fewer chewing hours, you'll likely take in fewer calories and have more active hours to burn them off. This is especially helpful for late-night snackers who reach for the chips and cookies late night. If this sounds familiar, a cut-off time for eating might be helpful to you.

A recent global survey of worldwide sleep patterns from the Philips Center for Health and Well-being shows that Americans are some of the most sleep-deprived people in the world. So, what can you do about it?
Now is your chance to learn which foods to eat and which to steer clear of for a good night's sleep.

Should you reach for tryptophan-rich foods?
The hormone serotonin is an important factor in triggering sleep. Since our nerve cells use the amino acid tryptophan to make serotonin, much attention has been given to the role of tryptophan (and tryptophan-containing foods) in promoting sleep. Studies of tryptophan's impact on sleep have found that it is only one phase of sleep - the falling asleep part - that is enhanced by tryptophan. Other aspects of sleep, such as the amount of deep-sleep reached during the night, may actually be harmed by supplemental tryptophan.

Many animal foods are relatively high in tryptophan and might sound like logical candidates for improving sleep. However, these same animal foods are also fairly high in other amino acids (like tyrosine) that could be used to produce other substances (like adrenalin) that would usually decrease with the onset of sleep. In summary, trying to up your serotonin by increasing your evening intake of high-tryptophan foods as a way to improve your sleep is not recommended.

Our serotonin levels respond to other aspects of our diet, however, and one of those aspects is carbohydrate intake. Eating foods higher in carbohydrates raises our blood insulin level. This is because carbohydrates are digested relatively quickly and raise our blood sugar level more quickly than proteins or fats. Along with this increased insulin level there is an increased transport of amino acids into our brain, including tryptophan. More brain tryptophan leads to more brain production of serotonin and increased likelihood of sleep onset.


Put down the burger and chips!
Sometimes we rationalize and think that a big meal will actually help us get to sleep by exhausting our body and having it slow down from exhaustion as it tries to digest the large meal. It's tempting logic, but research evidence points in the opposite direction. A large meal does the opposite of slowing our body down. It asks our circulatory system to move more blood to our digestive tract. It asks our stomach to secrete more gastric acid. It asks our pancreas to become more active and produce digestive enzymes. In short, a large meal does anything but relax us. Research also shows that people who often eat high-fat foods not only gain weight, they also experience a disruption of their sleep cycles.

Beware of hidden caffeine
It's no surprise that an evening cup of coffee might disrupt your sleep. Even moderate caffeine can cause sleep disturbances, but don't forget about less obvious caffeine sources, like chocolate, cola, tea and decaffeinated coffee. For better sleep, cut down your caffeine consumption and avoid caffeine in the hours before going to bed.

With respect to sleep, if you are going to eat a snack 1-2 hours before bed, a small carbohydrate-based snack that includes some protein and some fat would make the most sense. Snacks to get you snoozing might include: 100% whole grain crackers with a schmear of almond butter.

About This Author

Joanna Dolgoff, M.D. is a Pediatrician, Child Obesity Expert, and Author of Red Light, Green Light, Eat Right (Rodale, 2009). Dr. Dolgoff’s child and adolescent weight loss program (http://www.DrDolgoff.com) has been featured on WABC News, WNBC News, Fox 5 Morning Show, My9 News, and WPIX News. She has also filmed pieces with The Today Show and Extra, is an official blogger for the Huffington Post, and is the official doctor for Camp Shane, the nation’s largest weight loss camp. Children from 45 different states are losing weight with Dr. Dolgoff’s online weight loss program (http://www.DrDolgoff.com).
Dr. Dolgoff attended Princeton University and the NYU School of Medicine and completed her Pediatric Residency at the Columbia Presbyterian Children’s Hospital of New York. She is a Board-Certified Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and a former certified fitness instructor. Dr. Dolgoff resides in Roslyn, NY with her husband and two children, ages 4 and 7.

While they might not realize it, parents play a huge role in their children’s eating and exercise habits. Kids are still spending most of their time at home and eating most meals at home. Parents buy and prepare food, and decide what and how much kids can eat. They are responsible for providing opportunities for children to be active and can set rules for TV and video game use.

With obesity increasingly becoming a critical medical problem in children, parents need to step up to the plate. In the United States, a whopping 17 percent of children and adolescents aged 2 to 19 years are obese, as per the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but mom and dad, don’t fret.

According to a study recently published in medical journal Pediatrics, diet and exercise programs with parental involvement, parent and child centered program, are the best way to help kids stay trim and fit.

The study involved 165 overweight children between ages 6 to 10 years old, who were randomly assigned to one of three interventions: a diet program taught to parents by dietitians that focused on goal setting, problem solving and positive reinforcement from parents; an activity program for kids taught by physical education teachers, with parents taking part early on and encouraged to do more at home with their kids; and a combination of the two programs, with parents and children both participating.

Children in all three groups reduced their body mass index and waist circumference after two years, with the diet program and the combination program yielding better results than the activity program.

Therefore, parents' input might actually be necessary to see results. They can be trained to be effective agents of change where management of obesity in children is concerned. After the study, parents reported feeling more comfortable saying "no" to their children's demands, setting limits on the type of food the children could eat, limiting the amount of time they spent watching TV or playing video games, and establishing consequences for breaking the rules.

This study shows that interventions that target parents alone may be an effective and non-stigmatizing strategy for achieving effective weight loss in obese children. Red Light, Green Light, Eat Right’s child and parent centered program utilizes this strategy, and enables parents and children to make the right food choices and have fun eating healthy, wholesome meals. Power to the parents, you can do it!

About This Author

Joanna Dolgoff, M.D. is a Pediatrician, Child Obesity Expert, and Author of Red Light, Green Light, Eat Right (Rodale, 2009). Dr. Dolgoff’s child and adolescent weight loss program (http://www.DrDolgoff.com) has been featured on WABC News, WNBC News, Fox 5 Morning Show, My9 News, and WPIX News. She has also filmed pieces with The Today Show and Extra, is an official blogger for the Huffington Post, and is the official doctor for Camp Shane, the nation’s largest weight loss camp. Children from 45 different states are losing weight with Dr. Dolgoff’s online weight loss program (http://www.DrDolgoff.com).
Dr. Dolgoff attended Princeton University and the NYU School of Medicine and completed her Pediatric Residency at the Columbia Presbyterian Children’s Hospital of New York. She is a Board-Certified Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and a former certified fitness instructor. Dr. Dolgoff resides in Roslyn, NY with her husband and two children, ages 4 and 7.

As much as I'm trying to convert to a healthier diet, I really have a difficult time eating fish more than once a month. When I hear the recommendation of three times a week, it makes me feel like I will never be able to get my quota of good Omega 3s!

Enter the Everest Nutrition Krill Oil supplement:

When I was invited to review this product, I was excited to try it because now, instead of eating oily fish three times a week, I can just take a supplement and it will take care of the need for Omega 3s!

The thing that I don't like about fish, however, is the taste and I was a bit worried that I would still have to "taste" the fishy taste even in supplement form. Thankfully, I was wrong. I never had a hint that I was ingesting seafood in the whole time I was taking this supplement.

So, what is it that makes Krill Oil so good for you? Everest Nutrition's website claims that you can receive the following benefits:

1. Improve your cardiovascular health
2. Regulate blood pressure
3. Balance your cholesterol levels
4. Maintain healthy blood sugar levels
5. Strengthen joints and bones
6. Relieve pain
7. Improve your memory
8. Give your skin that healthy youthful glow
9. And much more!

 After being on this supplement one week, I can attest to the fact that my skin looked much better. I suffer with dry skin in the colder months, but I didn't even need moisturizer most days. I also didn't have as many sugar cravings, so perhaps the Krill Oil helped regulate my blood sugar levels as well.

If you're like me, and have a hard time stomaching our fishy friends, I would highly recommend Everest Nutrition's Krill Oil in supplement form. If you want more information about this great product and the awesome deals they are running on it right now, visit www.krilloil.com/


Note: I received this product from Everest Nutrition to try for free. I received no other compensation for it and all opinions are my own.
 
Jennifer Self is a disciple of Jesus Christ who loves following His plan for her life as a wife to the most wonderful man in the world and mama to four little blessings. Her days are filled with spending time with her man, homeschooling, preparing reasonably healthy meals and keeping the dust bunnies and the clutter monster at bay with a little blogging mixed in. After her family has been taken care of, she dabbles in her other passions of reading, health and music. She blogs about her life, her Heavenly Father, marriage, parenting and home at www.joyeverafter.blogspot.com.







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