What makes me the weight I am?
How much you weigh is a balance between the calories you eat and the calories you use. If you eat more calories than your body needs, you will gain too much weight. If you are in balance, your weight will stay right for you as you grow. But if you eat more and exercise less, you may become overweight. On the other hand, if you eat less and exercise more, you may lose weight.
Your genetic makeup, the physical traits that get passed down to you from your parents, also plays a big part in determining your weight. But that's only part of the story. Being overweight can run in someone's family, but it may not be because of their genes. Poor eating and exercise habits also run in families and this may be the reason the members of a family are overweight. And even though some kids gain weight more easily than others, when they eat right and exercise, most kids can be a healthy and happy weight that's right for them.
Because people come in all different shapes and sizes, the best weight for you is one that is right for your individual body type and size. It can be unhealthy to be too thin if you are eating less food than your body needs. Eating enough food is like putting gas in your car — if you run out of gas, it stops working!
Being overweight is not good either. Kids who are overweight may not be getting the right nutrition if the food they eat has a lot of fat and calories (like donuts and fries) without the other nutrients needed to stay healthy and strong. Eating a variety of healthy foods, including fruits and vegetables, is the best way to go. It puts high-quality fuel in your tank so you are ready to go!
To learn more about figuring out a healthy weight for your child, visit meritcare.com.
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