Structure House Launches Parent Education Program To Combat Childhood Obesity :

Childhood Obesity

As obesity rates continue to tip the scales in North Carolina, a local expert on weight loss has decided to take action with a focus on childhood obesity. Dr. Gerard J. Musante, founder of the residential weight loss facility Structure House, launched  Healthy Starts at Home, an 8-week parent education program to provide parents with the tools they need to cultivate healthy lifestyles for their children.

"With the constant rise in childhood obesity, it is important to educate parents on how to create a healthy environment at home," said Dr. Musante. "Studies show that parent interventions can be highly effective in weight loss management for children, and we believe this program will help parents take necessary action to ensure the health of their children."

Children who are overweight or obese are more likely to experience mood and self-esteem problems than those with healthy body weights. If not addressed early, weight problems are likely to follow children into adulthood and cause a variety of health-related problems later in life.

Healthy Starts at Home will be led by a clinical psychologist and a registered dietician with extensive experience in family-based weight management for children and adolescents. The sessions will focus on topics such as meal planning, nutrition, self-esteem and body image, increasing physical activity, smart snacking habits, and maintaining healthy habits, among others. The program will teach behavioral principles that are proven as the most effective ways to help children achieve and maintain healthy body weight.

Each class will consist of 10-15 parents and will be held one evening per week for 75 minutes at Structure House. Healthy Starts at Home is open to parents who have a child between the ages of 6-16 and welcomes both parents to attend classes together. The first session will begin September 19.

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