(BlackDoctor.org) -- My eight-year old daughter is overweight.  My wife seems to think this is a problem and that she needs to go on a diet.  I think that she will naturally lose weight, as she gets older and taller.  What do you think?  --Concerned Parent in Maryland

Dear Concerned Parent in Maryland:

You are both right.  While it is certainly likely that your child will “thin out” as she gets taller, it is also very important to monitor her health at this stage to ensure that she is eating healthy and getting plenty of exercise.  As I am sure you know, healthy eating and physical activity habits are key to your child's well being. Eating too much and exercising too little can lead to obesity and related health problems, which can follow children into their adult years. You can take an active role in helping your daughter and your whole family.

It is important to involve the whole family in building healthy eating and physical activity habits. How are the family’s eating and physical activity habits as a whole?  Do you prepare regular balance meals and engage in physical activity as a family? Since children often learn by example, it is important that they see Mom and Dad incorporating healthy habits into their lifestyle. Additionally, it benefits everyone and does not single out the child who is overweight.

Encourage your daughter to eat a healthful diet by serving more fruits and vegetables at meal and snack times. Let your child choose them at the store, and assist with the food preparation to allow them to take an active role in their dietary habits.  Also, buy fewer soft drinks and high fat/high calorie snack foods like chips, cookies and candy.

Be sure that your daughter is eating breakfast every day. Skipping breakfast can leave your child hungry, tired and looking for less healthy foods later in the day.

Do not get discouraged if your child will not eat a new food the first time it is served. Some kids will need to have a new food served to them 10 times or more before they will eat it. 

Try not to use food as a reward when encouraging your daughter to include healthier foods in her diet. Promising dessert to a child for eating vegetables, for example, sends the message that vegetables are less valuable than dessert. Kids learn to dislike foods they think are less valuable.

Do not put your child on a weight-loss diet unless your child’s health care provider tells you to. If children do not eat enough, they may not grow and learn as well as they should. Seek treatment for your daughter if you have changed your family's eating and physical activity habits and she has not reached a healthy weight or if your child’s health care provider has told you that your daughter’s health or emotional well being is at risk because of her weight.

Most importantly, accept your child at any weight. Children will be more likely to accept and feel good about themselves when their parents accept them. Tell your child that he or she is loved, is special and is important. Children's feelings about themselves often are based on their parents' feelings about them.

BlackDoctor.org is a credible and trusted resource for African Americans to get healthy lifestyle information.  A "WebMD" for Black consumers is a good way of looking at us.  Our aim is to build a comprehensive database of accurate, relevant information and to be the first point of call whenever African Americans need medical/dental information or a referral to a qualified Black doctor.