Obese child - how to improve child's health/reduce calorie intake?

I am concerned about the situation I find my sister's child in. He is chubby for his age (about 8 years old and probably in the region of 40kg.



He's always been quite a healthy, solid child but never fat. As a 6/7 year old, he was always around the 30kg mark which suited him to a tee and he looked healthy.



In the last 7/8 months, he has quite literally ballooned and now actually looks fat and uncomfortable in his own skin.



Because he is my sister's child, I don't wish to say anything as I'm concerned she will get defensive or upset about it. I have seen her buying him snacks such as Pringles crisps and endless sweets and chocolates and fast food.



What is the best way I can tackle the situation and make her aware of the danger she is putting her child in.



More importantly, does anyone have any tips for reducing this child's calorie intake without making him self-conscious about himself? Clearly the child's self-esteem is at a crucial stage in life...



Any help most gratefully received - thanks!Obese child - how to improve child's health/reduce calorie intake?i would be very blunt with his parents, if they were letting him smoke or take drugs would you shout at them? what they are doing is no different, they are making his life a lot harder for him and he can't help it. He is a defenceless child and is licky to have someone close who intelligent enough to see the harm that is being done. They need to know children must be fed healthy food and encouraged to play energetic games. Having your sister upset for a little bit now is better than your nephew being obese and depressed all his lifeObese child - how to improve child's health/reduce calorie intake?'Borrow' your nephew for a trip involving something like a walk up a hill. If he can't keep up with you without puffing and panting then you could raise it as a matter of reasonable concern.



You could also talk to him and encourage him to become more active and cut down on the unhealthy snacks using his inability to keep up with this ancient crone of an aunt as the 'hook'.



You could offer him some healthy type rewards if he can beat you up the hill next time!Obese child - how to improve child's health/reduce calorie intake?I am betting he is insulin resistant, continuous high levels of carbs will have damaged the receptors. It's the first step to type II diabetes and is becoming quite common with a diet high in carbage. He will probably never be able to process carbs the way a person with a still functioning body can. You eat carbs %26amp; in a functioning body, glucose goes to the muscles, in the insulin resistant, they go straight to the fat cells. The body is screaming for nutrition but insulin (the fat storage hormone) is diverting it directly to the fat cells, you are driven to eat with this continuous blood glucose, insulin battle raging in your system. Your blood sugar gets low which signals you to eat, your tissues are screaming for nutrition, you try to feed it and you just get bigger. Full as a tick and still hungry.



The thought of no carbs is scary (that's the addiction controlling your brain) I promise try this one week and let it change your life. Eat all you want, I suggest you PLAN to overeat, eat so much you won't feel deprived. The addiction should be gone in 3 days and you will discover the miracle of low carbing. If you're hungry eat, it doesn't matter if it's 6000 calories, at the very worst, you will not gain weight, at the best you will lose weight.



Simple carbs are addictive and can be disastrous to our health. The best way to break the addiction is NO carbs for 3 days. Make a huge batch of deviled eggs and eat one every time you want "something" have huge omelets for breakfast %26amp; brunch, with bacon, a lil onion, peppers, mushrooms %26amp; cheese. Pork chops for lunch. Get pork rinds and eat them with tuna salad or make an avocado/mayo/cayenne dip with pork rinds. Steak or bunless bacon cheeseburgers for dinner. Make a huge sugar free cheese cake for dessert have it with every meal and as a snack. Eat so much you won't feel deprived of anything. By the fourth day, your addiction will be gone and you can start making healthy choices.



One can lose more body fat eating protein and fat (don't eat protein alone) than not eating AT ALL. To lose weight fast eat all you want but nothing but meat, eggs, healthy oils, mayo, butter and half an avocado a day (you'll need added potassium). Keep the calories high and the fat percentage high, at least 65% of calories. Adding in green vegetables %26amp; some cheese will continue weight loss but at a slower pace.



The first 2 weeks you can have several cups a day of (mostly) lettuce and celery, cucumbers, radishes, mushrooms, peppers and more variety of vegetables thereafter add 5 grams per day additional every week til you gain weight, then you subtract 10 carbs. (20 grams day first 2 weeks, 25grams 3rd week, 30grams 4th week etc) That would give you your personal carb level (everyone is different and it depends on how active you are.) As long as you remain %26lt;9 carbs per hour, you will maintain insulin control, and shouldn't gain weight.



If you starve yourself by lowering calories lower than are needed for the body to function, your body will freak out and will want to store every ounce in case it doesn't get nourished again. You need to give it adequate nourishment so it doesn't slow your metabolism down to adjust for lower calories.



Simple carbohydrates (sugar, flour, bread, cereal, pasta, potatoes, rice) triggers insulin which can store the calories you eat into fat. The more protein you eat the more the fat burning hormone glucagon is released. The more carbohydrate you eat the more the fat storage hormone insulin is released.



High insulin levels unbalance other hormones. Controlling your insulin level will balance out other hormones %26amp; allow human growth hormone (HGH) to be produced naturally so you will gain lean muscle even even without exercise.