Miguel Cotto will confront Canelo Alvarez this weekend in a boxing match at Las Vegas. The professional boxer is the only Puerto Rican to win world titles in four different weight classes. He is now as strong and fit as ever, but as a young kid, he was obese and now he’s helping others fight obesity.
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“I suffered from an obesity problem when I was 11 years old,” explains Cotto to People en Español. This is what made him get into boxing and what helps him motivate others to slim down.
Tips to fight child obesity
When it comes to childhood obesity, the problem starts at home, which is why it’s so important to set a good example for your children. Children learn by example and if you teach them that being healthy is a priority, they will follow in your steps. Here are some small steps you can begin taking as a family:
- Drink more water: Doing something as simple as drinking water, helps keep you feel fuller, which makes you eat less. Limiting the amount of soda and juice, which contains a lot of sugar and calories can help keep kids from gaining weight.
- Have fun exercising: Exercise doesn’t have to be boring or a punishment. Make sure your kids are getting at least 1 hour of exercise a day, and this could be anything like playing basketball, running, walking or any other activity that they enjoy.
- Shut off the TV: There’s a correlation between watching too much TV and sitting down for a long period of time without getting any exercise. Limiting the amount of time kids and parents watch TV can help.
- Eat meals together: When you make more food at home and eat out less, this cuts down on calories and eating as a family you can incorporate more fruits and vegetables. There are no surprises or hidden ingredients, which can be a healthier option.
- Set a good example: If your child sees that you don’t exercise or are eating junk food, then he will want to do the same. You are the adult, so set a good example by eating right, limiting junk food and exercising.
NEXT: Is Obesity and Diabetes Passed On to the Next Generation?