How to talk to your kids about weight
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Still, we can’t dismiss the fact that childhood obesity (which is clinically defined as a BMI at or above the 95th percentile) is a problem that can lead to serious health consequences — both in the short and long term. Those health problems include a higher risk of asthma and other breathing problems, joint pain, gastroesophageal reflux, fatty liver disease, high blood pressure and high cholesterol (which increase the risk of heart disease), and type 2 diabetes. Being overweight as a child can also have a powerful impact on emotional well-being, with an increased risk of bullying, low self-esteem, and serious mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression. How should you talk to your child about weight loss? Though you may curtail weight talk inside the home, you can’t control what happens outside your house, where overweight kids may be subject to teasing and weight-based bullying. If your child seems distressed, ask, “What’s bothering you?” and don’t assume that it has anything to do with his or her weight. (There are a number of things that can affect a kid’s mood, like a fight with a friend or a bad grade.) Whatever it is, create a safe, loving and open space to have a conversation about it. If it turns out your child is the target of fat shaming, be sure he or she has tools to handle the situation. That might mean thinking through a curt comeback (like, “I don’t appreciate that” or “That’s not a cool thing to say”) or it might be telling a teacher or another grownup. But it usually doesn’t involve encouraging them to take the abuse. Instead, help your child develop resilience, show love and support and respect at home, and encourage friendships and activities where your child feels welcome. Related Parenting 101 Parenting 101What makes kids picky eaters — and what may help them get over it Giving children a meaningful role in creating healthy meals will help them to feel more invested in sustaining behavior change around eating habits. Want more articles like this? Sign up for the BETTER newsletter to get tips for parenting healthy, happy kids Rather than denying your kids these pleasures (which isn’t advised), focus on serving nutritious foods at home and teach your kids that these are fun foods. Taylor suggests reminding kids that while fun foods are a part of the celebration, there are other things to focus on as well. For example, there may be music and dancing or a chance to hang out and get silly with friends. The best way to lose weight boils down to these three thingsMay 31, 201802:11 The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends setting boundaries around media time and paying close attention to make sure that screen time isn’t interfering with other healthful behaviors (including sleep). They offer an interactive tool to help you set up your family’s media plan so that you can develop more structure around your family’s screen time. Muth recommends a no-screen time policy within an hour of bedtime and during meal times. Establishing a consistent and relaxing bedtime ritual is another way to improve your child’s health. The AAP says school-aged children need from eight to 12 hours of sleep each night, depending on age. Nicole Taylor, Associate Professor of Anthropology at Texas State University And don’t forget that how you act matters, too. If you’re critical of your own body, you’re modeling that behavior for your child and though it may be unintentional, you may be teaching your child to worry about his or her body size, explains Taylor. “When adults obsess over their own body fat in front of children, they model that behavior and anxiety as normal,” she says. Dr. Muth says that by focusing on positive, healthy behaviors, de-emphasizing weight talk, and taking some important steps as a family, you can have a big impact on your child’s health. “When families strive to have mostly healthy foods at home, eat family dinners together, make physical activity a priority, and enforce regular bedtimes and screen time rules, then the family is healthy. The weight is less of an issue.” More from BETTER
