How could obesity be prevented?

Access to healthy, affordable foods and safe, convenient places for physical activity can impact obesity. Improving nutrition, physical activity, and breastfeeding in early care and education programs. Designing communities that connect sidewalks, bicycle routes, and public transportation with homes, schools, parks, and workplaces to increase physical activity. Expanding voucher incentive and produce prescription programs to make healthy foods more available. Eat healthy foods and drink healthy beverages, following the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Get the recommended amount of physical activity. Get enough sleep. Manage stress. Helping families with lower incomes get affordable, nutritious foods through programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children and farm-to-education programs. Supporting children and families who are at higher risk for obesity through services at Federally Qualified Health Centers, Head Start, and other service agencies. Funding programs and providing training and resources for initiatives that promote healthy eating, food and nutrition security, and physical activity.

If you consume high amounts of energy, particularly found in high fat and high sugar foods, and do not use all of the energy through physical activity, much of the extra energy will be stored in the body as fat. Eating large amounts of processed or fast food – this is food that's high in fat and sugar, drinking too much alcohol – alcohol contains a lot of calories, eating out a lot – food cooked in a restaurant may be higher in fat and sugar, eating larger portions than you need, drinking too many sugary drinks – including soft drinks and fruit juice, comfort eating – some people may comfort eat due to many other factors affecting their life such as low self-esteem or low mood, are some diet and lifestyle factors that contribute to development of obesity and overweight. The Department of Health and Social Care recommends that adults do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, such as cycling or fast walking, every week. This does not need to be done all in a single session, but can be broken down into smaller periods. For example, you could exercise for 30 minutes a day for 5 days a week. Changes in society have also made it more difficult to have a healthy diet, high calorie food has become cheaper and more convenient, and is heavily advertised and promoted. Read about eating less saturated fat and how to cut down on sugar in your diet. It may help to start off slowly and gradually increase the amount of exercise you do each week.

You and your child should each see a healthcare provider once a year to monitor changes in body mass index (BMI). Your provider or your child’s pediatrician may recommend lifestyle changes if BMI regularly increases. This is to prevent you or your child from developing overweight or obesity. If your BMI indicates you are getting close to being overweight or if you have certain risk factors, your provider may recommend you adopt healthy lifestyle changes to prevent overweight and obesity. Such changes may include healthy eating, being physically active, maintaining a healthy weight, managing stress, and getting enough good-quality sleep. The DASH Eating Plan includes recipes and flexible meal plans that limit foods high in saturated fat, sugar-sweetened beverages, sweets, and sodium. The Aim for a Healthy Weight program offers healthy weight tools such as menu plans and tips for controlling your weight, eating right, and getting physically active. We Can! Ways to Enhance Children’s Activity and Nutrition provides healthy weight resources for parents to help start healthy habits as a family. But you can replace unhealthy habits with healthy ones.