When it comes to crafting a healthy diet for your child, focus on what she eats rather than how much. Subjecting children to a highly calorie-restrictive diet can have negative consequences, reports WebMD. To ensure that your efforts toward helping your child diet don't have negative consequences, select an assortment of healthy foods to tempt his appetite instead of placing a cap on intake.

With the ever-increasing rates of teen obesity, it is perhaps no surprise that the number of teens turning to surgical options for weight-loss is also on the rise. While many argue that teens should lose weight through lifestyle change, some struggling teens turn to surgery because they feel as if they have no other option. For these teens, surgery, as invasive as it may be, seems the only escape from their weight-related struggles.

While sports can be a healthy way for kids to burn off energy and build their muscles, attendant risks are associated with sports participation. Much to the chagrin of many moms, you can't fully protect your sports player from injury. You'll cringe every time they step foot on a football field, baseball diamond or basketball court. However, you can help your athletic kid prevent injury (and calm your nerves a bit) with some common-sense safeguards.

High cholesterol isn't just a medical condition that affects adults. Cholesterol problems in children are increasing as childhood obesity increases. Obesity is one of the three main factors that cause high cholesterol in children, along with diet and heredity. Experts are conflicted about the best approach to treatment because cholesterol medications haven't been thoroughly tested in children, but lifestyle changes alone don't always drop cholesterol levels as low as they need to go -- especially in cases of hereditary high cholesterol.

While gyms and fitness boot camps often use circuit training to target people's major muscle groups and keep the heart rate raised, children's circuit training has a variety of goals and benefits. The primary aspect of effective kids' circuit training is that it offers diverse, developmentally appropriate activities that do not rely as much on calisthenics, floor work or hydraulic exercise machines. Keep the pace fast and the mood upbeat, and children will discover new challenges.

Seeing your child dabble with drugs is often painful and worrisome. When a child falls into the habit of using controlled substances, this behavior can quickly escalate into addiction, making it even more challenging for parents to help their kids kick the habit. If you believe that your child may be dealing with this very adult life challenge, there are some things you can do to help him get back on the right -- and drug-free -- path.

The benefits of a healthy smile stretch beyond the purely cosmetic. Tooth decay can lead to trouble speaking, learning and eating, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Teach your child from a young age the importance of dental health and show him how to care for his teeth by brushing and flossing at least twice a day. Help your child brush his teeth until he's able to do it successfully on his own.

Asthma is a highly common breathing-related disorder that affects approximately five million American children, reports the American Academy of Pediatrics. Diagnosing this disorder quickly is important, as there are treatments that can prevent the problem from becoming even more difficult for your child to bear. If you think that your child may be one of the five million kids who suffer from asthma, be on the look out for some signs of the disorder, and share your concerns with his doctor as soon as possible.

While the life of a child may seem carefree, some children's sunny facades may mask a struggle with panic attacks. In panic, or anxiety attack episodes, children experience a physical response to their emotional stress, often resulting in symptoms that can mimic those of a heart attack. Witnessing these symptoms is very stressful for parents and leaves them eager to find a solution to their child's anxiety.

If you have a hyperactive kid who can drive you nuts, you may literally want to feed him nuts. The thought behind a diet for hyperactive kids is that certain foods may help the brain function better by decreasing the symptoms that hyperactive kids have, such as being restless and unable to focus. Certain foods, such as proteins -- which include nuts -- are brain food.