How To Be Mindful Of Commenting On Your Kid’s Weight

 

Growing up is a beautiful time of self-discovery but it can be hard. Especially for kids who are overweight, people can be cruel & feed into weight stigma. The last thing they need is their closest allies making them feel badly about themselves.⁠

While the media plays a role in portraying unrealistic standards, the most targeting criticism comes from those closest to them. Parents can say things like “you’d have more friends if you lost weight” or peers can laugh at someone overweight for buying snacks at school. These comments haunt some into their adulthood & reinforce the idea that our appearance is associated with good friendships, happiness, or success rather than focusing on health/well-being. ⁠

It’s recommended to not comment on your kids’ weight, even if you think you’re being helpful. Top experts state that weight doesn’t need to be part of the discussion of health & fitness. In a meta-analysis that included 42 studies, it concluded that encouraging weight loss in kids leads to negative self-esteem and disordered eating.⁠

Tips:⁠
– if you’re concerned about your kid’s health, set new family goals for activity & food without labeling food as good or bad
– focus on healthy behaviors & weight will take care of itself to land wherever is healthiest for that individual
– stop emphasizing appearance as it enforces the ideal image as being key to happiness & success
– remind them that bodies come in all shapes and sizes

It’s not a matter of pretending bodies don’t exist, as bodies are powerful machines, but it’s more so about teaching a mindful connection to a body inside out rather than only from the outside. The key is to take the emphasis off of appearance. This is why we take a body neutral approach to health and fitness.⁠