Obesity in kids linked to teasing

Boost your child’s body image to limit weight gain

New research suggests that your child’s body image plays a big part in future weight problems – and that you can help boost her self-esteem by easing up on the pressure to lose pounds.

University of Minnesota research into teen weight issues has revealed that almost half of the girls and just under a quarter of the boys involved in the study were overweight or had resorted to diets, vomiting or purging with laxatives or diuretics to lose weight. The kids who weighed the most were just as likely to have indulged in these measures as the kids who were too thin, suggesting that body image and self esteem issues were prevalent among kids whatever their weight might be.

And it seems to that pressuring overweight children to shed those extra pounds may be counterproductive in helping them maintain a healthy weight. In fact, the results of the study indicated that pressure and teasing were linked to a higher risk of binge eating and obesity a few years down the line – girls who said they’d been teased about their weight were twice as likely to be overweight five years later.

Concerned about your child’s weight?

So what approach should parents take if they’re worried about their child’s weight? Combine subtle encouragement to eat right with tactics that make your child feel good about herself – whatever her weight might be.

Make mealtimes matter
Focus on eating healthy, nutritionally balanced meals together as a family. Previous UoM research suggests this educates kids in making better food choices – children who reported regularly eating with their folks ate more fruit and vegetables and drank less sugary soda. As a bonus, it also helps reinforce the parent-teen bond at a time when your child’s developmental changes could otherwise drive a wedge between you – kids who eat dinner with their families are less likely to drink and do drugs, and get better grades too.

Fit in fitness
Encourage your child to take exercise by modeling fitness yourself – but don’t give your child the impression that you’re doing it to lose weight. Instead, emphasize that exercise helps boost energy, fight stress and strengthen your muscles. Exercise together by taking a daily walk with her. Other new research from the University of Colorado shows that taking an extra 2000 steps every day, combined with cutting 100 calories’ worth of sugar from their diet, can help prevent weight gain in kids. The study, which aimed to evaluate the success of the America on the Move program, showed that 67% of kids who took part either lost weight or didn’t gain any extra.

Go with her gifts
Building your child’s self-esteem by praising her for gifts, talents and achievements that aren’t connected to her appearance and weight.

 

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