Mayo Clinic Health System
  • Request an Appointment
  • Patient Online Services
    • Find
      a Service
    • Find
      a Provider
    • Find
      a Location
    • Visit
      our Blog
    • Contact
      Us
    • Refer
      A Patient
    • Patient Stories
    Don't delay your care:
    • Schedule your appointment now for safe, in-person care.
    • Visit our COVID-19 page for safe care and visitor guidelines, and trusted coronavirus information. 
    • Get current patient vaccination updates by region.
    • Request an Appointment
    • Patient Online Services
    • Pay Bills Online
    • Refer a Patient
    • For Patients & Visitors
    • Financial Assistance
    • Donate
    • Careers
    • Volunteer
    • For Medical Professionals
    • About Us
    • Community Resources
    • Press Room
    • Mayo Clinic
    • CaringBridge
    ERROR!

    Find Classes & Events in Your Area

    Posted By
    Jennifer Brumm MD

    Jennifer Brumm, M.D.

    Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine (Children)

    Recent Posts

    • Featured Topic
      Helping your children prepare for a COVID-19 test
      August 19, 2020
    Featured Topics
    • Behavioral Health
    • Cancer
    • Children's Health (Pediatrics)
    • Diabetes
    • Exercise and Fitness
    • Heart Health
    • Men's Health
    • Obstetrics and Gynecology
    • Weight Loss and Bariatric Surgery
    • Women's Health
    Speaking of Health
    Thursday, February 11, 2021

    Healthy weight in children starts with healthy habits

    5210 child obesity illustration

    Experts agree: Childhood obesity is a major problem. About one-third of pediatric patients at Mayo Clinic Health System are not at a healthy weight.

    The issue is not just aesthetic.

    Being at an unhealthy weight can lead to a host of physical and mental health problems, including:

    • Type 2 diabetes
    • Increased blood pressure and cholesterol
    • Sleep disorders
    • Low self-esteem
    • Bullying
    • Depression

    The number of children struggling to maintain a healthy weight has increased over the past 10 years. The problem is due in part to widespread lifestyle changes.

    Technology use has increased, activity levels have gone down and the way people eat has changed. Families are eating out or getting takeout a lot more, and children are eating and drinking a lot more things that are not nutritious, such as chips, crackers, juice and pop.

    To battle these trends and the problems that often come with them, experts recommend adopting healthier habits.

    The key to a healthy weight is making lifestyle changes that will stick. It's not about putting a kid on a diet. It's about the whole family making changes so everyone is healthier.

    Healthy changes include:

    • Getting more exercise.
    • Avoiding foods that are not nutritious.
    • Eating more fruits and vegetables.
    • Drinking low-fat milk or water instead of juice or pop.
    • Limiting screen time to two hours or less per day. Screen time is not recommended for children under 2.

    These are habits all families should adopt, regardless of whether family members have weight to lose. It's much easier to prevent obesity than to go backward if your child gains weight.

    Review additional healthy habits for families, and choose a few that stand out to give them a try.

    Jennifer Brumm, M.D., is a pediatrician in Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine in La Crosse, Wisconsin.


    For the safety of our patients, staff and visitors, Mayo Clinic has strict masking policies in place. Anyone shown without a mask was either recorded prior to COVID-19 or recorded in a non-patient care area where social distancing and other safety protocols were followed.
    Topics in this Post
    • Childhood Obesity
    • Children's Health (Pediatrics)

    Stay Connected

    • Hometown Health

    Find Out What’s Happening in Your Community

    Stay Informed with the Latest
    • Notice of Nondiscrimination
    • Notice of Privacy Practices
    • Terms of Use
    © 2018 - 2021 Mayo Clinic Health System