If the holidays present adults with a kind of dietary minefield of high-calorie treats and temptations, it’s an even more treacherous time for the overweight or obese child<\/a>, a description which statistically applies to one in every three American kids.<\/p>\n Consider: even the average diet-savvy adult, studies tell us, puts on about one pound of weight between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, while the overweight or obese adult can pack on as much as five — and that’s with an adult’s impulse control and awareness of the consequences.<\/p>\n The fact is, the overarching atmosphere of the year-end holidays is one of self-indulgence, so kids naturally feel entitled to loosen up and treat themselves right along with the grownups. Moreover, researchers have found that when school is not in session, kids tend to put on weight through inactivity and increased snacking — and that’s just during the summer, when nobody is baking Christmas cookies or cranking out gingerbread men.<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n According to some childhood obesity clinicians, the result of all this can be 5 to 7 added pounds by the time January arrives. So, what is the parent who wishes to prevent this from happening to her children to do? Here are a few recommendations from some health and weight-control professionals.<\/p>\n (By Robert S. Wieder for CalorieLab Calorie Counter News)<\/p>\n From the RSS feed of CalorieLab News<\/a> (REF3076322B7)<\/p>\n“Santa hates fat children,” while possibly effective as a deterrent, is far too heavy handed<\/h3>\n
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