One easy remedy for overweight kids -- water

Want to help your kids keep the weight off? Just give them water instead of soda and other sugar-sweetened drinks, researchers advised on Monday.

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More U.S. Kids Taking Diabetes, Blood Pressure Drugs

The number of American children and teens taking drugs to lower blood pressure and control diabetes has risen significantly since 2004, according to a new study.

"Children and adolescents are starting to show signs of chronic health conditions and cardiovascular risk factors that are typically reserved for adults," said Joshua N. Liberman, vice president of strategic research at the company and the study's lead researcher. "We need to be educating health-care providers about the opportunities for managing these patients."

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Study finds obesity is rampant in 4-year-olds

A striking new study says that almost one in five American 4-year-olds are obese, and the rate is alarmingly higher among American Indian children, with nearly a third of them obese.

Researchers were surprised to see differences by race at so early an age.

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Health Tip: Managing the Teen Years

The teen years can be difficult for parents and their children, who are undergoing countless physical and emotional changes.

The Nemours Foundation offers these suggestions to help you and your child navigate the teen years a bit more smoothly:

* Do your homework on the challenges that your child is likely to face as a teen, and how they may change your relationship. Don't forget what that period of life was like for you.
* Talk with your teen early on about puberty and the changes that will occur. Be prepared to answer your child's questions about issues such as sex, drugs and alcohol.
* Put yourself in your child's shoes. Keep in mind the emotional and physical changes that about to occur in your teen. Be patient and sympathetic.
* Let your child develop his or her own personality, and don't fight over every little thing. But always be firm on serious topics such as sex, alcohol and drugs.
* Understand that your child may be resistant to the rules you impose. It's natural, but this doesn't necessarily mean that your child won't strive to meet your expectations.

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Health Tip: Calming Chickenpox

Chickenpox, and its trademark itchy, red spots, is a common disease in children.

The Nemours Foundation offers these suggestions for relieving the itch and keeping your child more comfortable:

* Have your child soak in a warm oatmeal bath every few hours.
* Apply cool, damp rags across your child's body.
* Gently pat your child's body dry. Don't rub or scratch the itchy spots.
* Dab the pox with calamine lotion, everywhere but on the face.
* If your child's chickenpox are inside the mouth, feed the child soft, cold foods. Avoid anything acidic or salty.
* Have your child take acetaminophen to alleviate pain.
* Talk to your child's pediatrician about OTC medications that soothe itching, and creams that are safe to alleviate pain near the genitals.

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