Online Class: Understanding Childhood Obesity

This course will also help you identify what you need to do now and down the road to help your child lose weight and stay healthy. We'll go over the checkpoints you'll pass along the way, and every twist and turn that you may face up ahead

$95.00
no certificate
- OR -
$120.00
with CEU Certificate*
Start Right Now!
$120.00 (with CEU Certificate)
Taking multiple courses? Save with our platinum program.
 
  • 11
    Lessons
  • 13
    Exams &
    Assignments
  • 1,116
    Students
    have taken this course
  • 3
    Hours
    average time
  • 0.3
    CEUs
 
 

Course Description

This comprehensive course is designed to address the urgent and growing concern of childhood obesity, a pressing issue that affects families globally. It offers valuable insights and practical solutions for parents seeking to support their children's health and wellbeing.

Course Overview

This course provides a dual-focus approach, catering to both parents of overweight children seeking strategies for healthy weight management and parents aiming to instill robust eating and exercise habits to prevent obesity from an early age.

  1. Understanding Childhood Obesity: We'll start by exploring the latest statistics and research on childhood obesity, understanding its causes, implications, and the importance of tackling this issue early in life. Updated data and trends will offer a comprehensive view of this global challenge.

  2. Nutrition Essentials: Dive deep into the world of child nutrition. Learn about balanced diets, the role of different food groups, and how to create enjoyable, nutritious meals. We'll include real-life examples of healthy meal planning and tips for dealing with picky eaters.

  3. Physical Activity for Children: Discover the importance of physical activity in children's lives, exploring age-appropriate exercises and fun ways to keep your child active. We'll cover the latest guidelines on children's physical activity and provide examples of easy-to-implement activities for different age groups.

  4. Parental Guidance and Support: Understand your role as a parent in shaping your child's health behaviors. We'll discuss various parenting styles, their impact on children's health, and strategies for positive reinforcement.

  5. Dealing with Challenges: Address common challenges and barriers faced by parents and children in the journey towards a healthier lifestyle. We'll provide practical advice on managing setbacks and maintaining motivation.

  6. Health and Wellness from Infancy to Adolescence: Follow a child's growth journey from infancy to adolescence, with each stage bringing its unique challenges and opportunities in managing weight and health. This section provides a roadmap for parents to support their child's health through different developmental stages.

  7. Professional Guidance and Resources: While this course is rich in information, it is essential to complement it with professional advice. We'll guide you on when and how to seek help from healthcare professionals, including dietitians and pediatricians.

Why Take This Course?

  • Empowerment: Equip yourself with knowledge and tools to make informed decisions about your child’s health.
  • Prevention: Learn strategies to prevent obesity and associated health problems in your child from an early age.
  • Lifetime Skills: Develop skills and habits that benefit your family's health and wellbeing for a lifetime.

In conclusion, this course is an invaluable resource for any parent committed to nurturing a healthy, happy child. It's not just a course; it's a journey towards a healthier future for your family.

Course Motivation

Is Your Child's Weight Your Fault?  

You love your child, so naturally you might feel that your child's obesity is your fault.   Take heart that it's not. Obesity can be genetic and most of the time, it is. It can be caused by other disorders that we'll talk about in this course. Unless you are filling your child full of McDonald's and candy bars every meal of the day, seven days a week, you are not to blame for your child's weight issues.  

In fact, it's a good bet that you're reviewing this course now as one of your last resorts.   You've probably already tried putting your child on a diet. And you've probably restricted video games and TV in favor of going outside to play. None of these things worked as well as you wanted probably. If your child lost a few pounds, that was probably all they lost, and they were miserable doing it because they had to eat like a rabbit and give up the things they loved the most.
 
It's not that nothing you do works, and it's not that it's your fault. Childhood obesity is an epidemic in this country. Our modern lifestyles don't leave much room for the amount of exercise we need. Schools are cutting down on the physical education classes, and even school vending machines are stocked with candies and chips for your child to eat. Then, look at the foods you even serve at home, look at the high preservative and sugar content. When we were children, our sweet drinks contained sugar. Now they contain corn syrup.  
 
What You Can Do Now to Help Your Child
 
Now that we've established that it's not your fault and the way we live our lives today have a part to play in it; let's talk about solutions. This course is going to address the topic of childhood obesity and give you some of the help you need. But before we dive in, there are a few more things we need to discuss that you will find to be a huge help with your child.
 
    o   Putting your child on a diet without a doctor's help probably will not work long term. Obesity is a medical condition, and it needs to be treated that way. However, there are some things you can do to help your child lose weight instead of restricting food and forcing activity on your child. These things are listed below.
 
    o   Become a role model for your child. Instead of taking away foods they love and forcing them to go outside and exercise, show them what a healthy lifestyle is by example. You can take walks with your child, do exercises, and even change the way that you eat in order to teach them habits to help them lose weight.
 
    o   Teach your child to eat properly using methods that are supportive, not critical.   We know you love your child and want to help them, but how you do it can make them feel better, or worse. This course will teach you how to support your child, and even encourage them to lose weight.
 
    o   Only have foods in the house that support your child's nutritional plan. This means if your child no longer has access to potato chips and candy, neither do you. Staying healthy is a lifestyle, and it's something the whole family should do together.
 
    o   Determine if food is used as a comfort for your child. Does he or she eat more when they're upset? Also, be careful that your child's weight doesn't become an issue between the two of you. Again, it should be a supportive, encouraging atmosphere.
 
    o   Eat meals together and not in front of the TV. Teach your child proper portion size.
 
    o   Find healthy alternatives to watching TV for hours at a time, or playing on the computer or with video games.
    
    o   Have your child's doctor measure his or her BMI, or Body Mass Index. This will tell you and your doctor how overweight your child is and how much they need to lose. A BMI of 85-95% for their age is overweight. If it's greater than 95%, your child is obese.

What's more, in addition to helping your child succeed in losing weight, you must already recognize that there is an issue. It can be the hardest thing to admit to yourself. Parents tell themselves that the child will grow out of it, they're big boned like their relatives, or that they're just a little pudgy. Obesity is a hard word to swallow, especially when it's your child. However, admitting that your child is overweight and needs help to lose it in order to stay healthy is a big first step in the right direction.

Getting Started on Weight Loss with Your Child
 
Helping and guiding your child to lose weight is one of the biggest journeys you're ever going to take. You are not going to see instant results, and it's not going to be easy. As adults, we know very well that gaining weight is easy, but getting it off is the hard part. It's going to be no different for your child. It is going to require lifestyle changes, diet changes, patience, and encouragement every step of the way.  
 
Listen, there are a lot of people out there who are, not to be harsh, ignorant when it comes to childhood obesity. They tell you to feed your child less, make him or her go outside and play, and they treat your child's weight like something you could control if you really wanted to. People like that are fueled by children's diet books and other resources out there that make it seem that no child would ever be overweight if you just put them on a diet and kept them on it.   
 
Well, those approaches don't usually work well long-term. Instead, helping your child to lose weight is a journey the two of you will take together. This course is to serve as your guide. This course will help you identify your destination, the checkpoints that you'll pass along the way, and every twist and turn that you may face up ahead. Not only will this course explain childhood obesity to you, it will help you conquer it with your child. 

Again, just don't expect the results to happen overnight. If your child has 20 or 50 pounds to lose, sometimes it's healthier to lose it in smaller increments. The last thing you want is to put your child on a crash diet. Plus, you can expect setbacks along the way. That's to be expected. But that's okay. This course is going to help guide you through it all.

  • Completely Online
  • Self-Paced
  • Printable Lessons
  • Full HD Video  
  • 6 Months to Complete
  • 24/7 Availability
  • Start Anytime
  • PC & Mac Compatible
  • Android & iOS Friendly
  • Accredited CEUs
Universal Class is an IACET Accredited Provider
 

Course Lessons

Average Lesson Rating:
4.5 / 5 Stars (Average Rating)
"Extraordinarily Helpful"
(1,126 votes)

Lesson 1. Introduction

This course is going to address the topic of childhood obesity and give you some of the help you need. But before we delve in, there are a few more things we need to discuss that you will find to be a huge help with your child. 11 Total Points
  • Lesson 1 Video
  • Lesson discussions: Childhood Obesity Course; Reasons for Taking this Course
  • Complete Assignment: An Introduction
  • Assessment: Lesson 1: Introduction

Lesson 2. The Childhood Obesity Epidemic

If you take a few minutes to watch children on the playground or observe some of your child's classmates at school, you'll most likely notice at least a few kids who are overweight, if not obese. 10 Total Points
  • Lesson 2 Video
  • Assessment: Lesson 2: The Childhood Obesity Epidemic

Lesson 3. Nutrition and Your Child's Health

Whenever anyone talks about losing weight, they talk about eating less food. Perhaps society has conditioned us that way. 10 Total Points
  • Lesson 3 Video
  • Lesson discussions: Nutrition
  • Assessment: Lesson 3: Nutrition and Your Child's Health

Lesson 4. Physical Activity

Parents say it all the time and it's very close to being the truth. When we were young, we played outside. 10 Total Points
  • Lesson 4 Video
  • Lesson discussions: Physical Activity
  • Assessment: Lesson 4: Physical Activity

Lesson 5. Consistency

This and the next lesson in this course are written to help you with this challenge and to try to make it all not so overwhelming for you. 10 Total Points
  • Lesson 5 Video
  • Assessment: Lesson 5: Consistency

Lesson 6. Your Parenting Style and Challenges

In this lesson, we're going to discuss the challenges you may face with your child. 10 Total Points
  • Lesson 6 Video
  • Assessment: Lesson 6: Your Parenting Style and Challenges

Lesson 7. Getting Your Child Back to Good Health

This lesson will focus on the importance of planning before starting your program. 10 Total Points
  • Lesson 7 Video
  • Assessment: Lesson 7: Getting Your Child Back to Good Health

Lesson 8. Pregnancy and Your Child's First Year

This lesson will begin to discuss that there are also steps we can take as parents to prevent obesity as our kids are growing. Additional lesson topics: Pre-pregnancy Weight and Childhood Obesity 10 Total Points
  • Lesson 8 Video
  • Assessment: Lesson 8: Pregnancy and Your Child's First Year

Lesson 9. The Toddler and Preschool Years

As your baby grows into a toddler, it may become easier to know when your child is hungry or full, so you won't be second guessing yourself nearly as much and wonder if you're overfeeding or not. 8 Total Points
  • Lesson 9 Video
  • Assessment: Lesson 9: The Toddler and Preschool Years

Lesson 10. The School and Adolescent Years

By the time your child reaches five, they are growing in more ways than you can imagine. 8 Total Points
  • Lesson 10 Video
  • Assessment: Lesson 10: The School and Adolescent Years

Lesson 11. If Problems Arise

In this lesson, we've taken the time to talk about some of the more common problems you may face, as well as solutions. 57 Total Points
  • Lesson 11 Video
  • Lesson discussions: What is your opinion of this course?; Program Evaluation Follow-up Survey (End of Course); Course Comments
  • Assessment: Lesson 11: If Problems Arise
  • Assessment: The Final Exam
154
Total Course Points
 

Learning Outcomes

By successfully completing this course, students will be able to:
  • Understand what child obesity is and isn't.
  • Describe the childhood obesity epidemic.
  • Describe nutrition and your child's health.
  • Summarize physical activity.
  • Describe the importance of consistency.
  • Identify your parenting style and challenges.
  • Determine getting your child back to good health.
  • Summarize pregnancy and your child's first year.
  • Summarize the toddler and preschool years.
  • Summarize the school and adolescent years.
  • Demonstrate mastery of lesson content at levels of 70% or higher.
 

Additional Course Information

Online CEU Certificate
  • Document Your Lifelong Learning Achievements
  • Earn an Official Certificate Documenting Course Hours and CEUs
  • Verify Your Certificate with a Unique Serial Number Online
  • View and Share Your Certificate Online or Download/Print as PDF
  • Display Your Certificate on Your Resume and Promote Your Achievements Using Social Media
Document Your CEUs on Your Resume
 
Course Title: Understanding Childhood Obesity
Course Number: 7550480
Lessons Rating: 4.5 / 5 Stars (1,126 votes)
Languages: English - United States, Canada and other English speaking countries
Availability: This course is online and available in all 50 states including: California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Texas.
Last Updated: August 2023
Course Type: Self-Paced, Online Class
CEU Value: 0.3 IACET CEUs (Continuing Education Units)
CE Accreditation: Universal Class, Inc. has been accredited as an Authorized Provider by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET).
Grading Policy: Earn a final grade of 70% or higher to receive an online/downloadable CEU Certification documenting CEUs earned.
Assessment Method: Lesson assignments and review exams
Syllabus: View Syllabus
Course Fee: $120.00 U.S. dollars

Choose Your Subscription Plan

Course Only
One Course
No Certificate / No CEUs
$95
for 6 months
 
Billed once
This course only
Includes certificate X
Includes CEUs X
Self-paced Yes
Instructor support Yes
Time to complete 6 months
No. of courses 1 course
Certificate Course
One Course
Certificate & CEUs
$120
for 6 months
 
Billed once
This course only
Includes certificate Yes
Includes CEUs Yes
Self-paced Yes
Instructor support Yes
Time to complete 6 months
No. of courses 1 course
Platinum Yearly
ALL COURSES
Certificates & CEUs
$189
per year
 
Billed once
Includes all 600+ courses
Includes certificate Yes
Includes CEUs Yes
Self-paced Yes
Instructor support Yes
Time to complete 12 Months
No. of courses 600+
Platinum 2 Years
ALL COURSES
Certificates & CEUs
$299
for 2 years
You save $79.00!
Billed once
Includes all 600+ courses
Includes certificate Yes
Includes CEUs Yes
Self-paced Yes
Instructor support Yes
Time to complete 24 Months
No. of courses 600+
 

Student Testimonials

  • "Wonderfully explained course and great instructor ." -- Ethan O.
  • "The focus on parental encouragement and the handy tips in helping obese children overcome their obstacles was most helpful in the course. Thanks!" -- Alana A.