The number of children who are obese in the US and other countries is growing each year at an alarming rate.

Childhood obesity is a serious issue because children who are overweight and obese are more likely to develop a variety of serious diseases.

If you're a parent to an overweight or obese child, there are several things you can do to help. In this article, we'll share a few things on how you can keep your child active so as to avoid becoming overweight or obese.

Often it's simply a matter of finding the right kind of activity to help get your child be more active. While sports can be a great way for kids to socialize and get exercise, not all kids are a good match for the soccer, basketball or football team. If they are overweight, they may not be coordinated or athletic enough for traditional sports. This doesn't mean, however, that there aren't activities that would be appropriate for them. Look into all of the activities offered at your child's school or that are given locally. Swimming and martial arts are just a few after-school activities your child might enjoy.

Don't stop your child if he or she happens to be interested in any kind of pursuit that will help him or her be more active. Another thing you can do is encourage your child to eat snacks that are healthy and low in calories. You want to break your child's habit of snacking on junk food and replace it with healthier alternatives. Encourage your child to snack on nuts, fruits, yogurt, or some other healthy alternative. Your child won't like this change in snacking but it's important that you maintain your focus. Be patient and be persistent because your child will eventually develop a taste for healthy foods.

Rather than including a bar of chocolate in your child's lunch for him or her to snack on, try putting a bag of trail mix. It's very typical for adults and kids to get into the habit of eating big meals. In children, this habit usually starts when the parent always insist that their child not leave anything on the plate.

You'd obviously prompt your child to eat more if he or she appears to be underweight or isn't eating enough. However, if your child seems to be a little overweight, it's important that you make sure he or she eats just the right amount of food. Of course, this can be a problem when you dine out or order food from fast food places. Give your child smaller meal portions. It's not a good idea to pile a huge amount of food in front of your child. Doing so will only encourage your child to develop the habit of overeating.

Parents should be made aware of the causes of childhood obesity and what they can do to deal with it. If your child has such a problem, you should work closely with your pediatrician and come up with a strategy to help the child lose weight. You can help your child reach the ideal weight for him or her by applying the tips we've mentioned in this article.