Scientists talk of a time bomb waiting to explode, predicting that by 2010 nearly one in five boys and one in four girls under the age of 10 will be obese.

Despite the governments commitment to   reverse the trend, the picture is crystal clear: excess body weight is a big, fat issue that isnt going to fade away without some serious effort.

If, like many parents, youre concerned about your childs diet and exercise habits but havent found a way to motivate them to change, perhaps a bit of trickery is in store. I wont go as far as to suggest that you dupe your kids into doing something against their will, but I will share with you a powerful change method that Life Coaches and other practitioners use with their clients, freeing them of destructive behaviours.

Neuro-Linguistic Programming, or NLP, can be used to re-program our thought patterns, allowing more beneficial ones to gain entry to the subconscious mind. So how does this work and can you try it at home? One effective NLP technique involves using embedded commands.

Put simply, you bury a command (choose the healthy meal at lunchtime or walk to school) into a sentence - or better still within a story.

Children always love doing things they shouldnt do, so you might also try saying: You shouldnt choose the healthy meal at lunchtime unless you really think youre going to enjoy it. The aim is to embed commands or instructions into casual conversation something parents can easily do as part of their normal daily routine. Over time, as you repeat the precise commands, embedding them in sentences and stories, the messages get through.

Subconsciously, your child begins to take in what the expected behaviour is and will start to obey the command. Once you begin to experiment with embedded commands, and then you give the embedded commands time to work their magic, youll be surprised to find that you will be rewarded for your efforts.

Notice the embedded commands in that last sentence?

Theres no need to wait for your childs weight to become a big issue. If you want to avoid a battle of wills and perhaps find a more clever way of promoting a healthier lifestyle, start looking for opportunities to relay positive instructions to your little ones.

And always dish out a good dose of recognition whenever they choose the ever-so-slightly healthier option. Your child will thank you for it, from the bottom of their healthy heart. And who knows where this could lead - once you discover the power of embedded commands, you might feel empowered enough to get them to tidy their rooms!