According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, childhood obesity is a serious problem in the United States, putting children and adolescents at risk for poor health. For children and adolescents 2-19-years-old, between 2017-2020, obesity affected 14.7 million children. According to the experts, there are ways to talk to your kids about body weight, emphasizing the importance of a healthy lifestyle, but not necessarily making weight a big deal. Take a look at a few ways to start the conversation in your house.
1. Do not criticize yourself or others.
If you are not happy with your weight, or the way that you look, be careful not to vocalize it in front of your children. Criticizing yourself is not only harmful to you, but it may make overweight children think that this is how you are judging them as well.
And, remember when you are meeting someone or see someone out and about, don’t comment on their appearance first-and-foremost.
2. Talk positively about weight loss in terms of getting healthy.
Being obese can cause a plethora of health problems. According to the CDC, obesity-related conditions include: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, breathing problems such as asthma and sleep apnea, and joint problems. When talking to your kids about their weight, and they need to lose, frame the conversation around becoming healthy, not just losing weight for aesthetics. Explain to them that they do not want to have weight induced health issues.
3. Impress upon them that physical activity and healthy food can be fun.
There are many ways to include healthy foods as a part of learning. Most fruits and veges come in a variety of brilliant colors that can be used to help little ones learn and remember their colors. For the older ones, having a physical activity challenge with mom and dad can be only a great family bonding activity to do while exercising. Healthy foods and physical activity don’t need to be boring.
4. If you are asking them to do it, then you should too!
Children, no matter the age, mimic their parents. If you are asking them to eat healthier, exercise, etc. etc., then you should too. Be their example on this journey. Remember, establishing and maintaining a healthy weight loss regimen is not a sprint, its a full life marathon.
5. Teach children that everyone deserves to be respected no matter how they look.
Bullying is unfortunately a very real thing. And yes, kids are more often than not bullied about their weight. Impress upon your child that no one should ever be harassed and bullied for how much they weigh. Help them get comfortable with themselves and then tackle anything else after that.
Per the CDC, obesity prevalence was 26.2% among Hispanic children, 24.8% among non-Hispanic Black children, 16.6% among non-Hispanic White children, and 9.0% among non-Hispanic Asian children.
Establishing a healthy and happy approach to weight will make it not so much of a “big deal” in your household.
