How to talk with your child about weight, so as not to grow complexes
A Life / / December 19, 2019
Why the hysteria surrounding obesity is harmful
The World Health Organization sounds alarm because of the increased incidence of childhood obesity, and even set up a commissionto eliminate childhood obesity Commission to eliminate it. According to its data for 2016, obesity was found in 41 million children under the age of five years and more than 340 million children and adolescents 5-19 years of age. obesity threatensChildhood obesity Type II diabetes, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular system, and emotional problems.
But there is a huge and scary but. Obesity - a medical diagnosis. And overweight is not so easy, especially when it comes to children. In addition, even a healthy body weight is correlated with low gloss standards.
In particular risk are girls, as the requirements for the female form as a whole is higher than the male.
Studies show that as early as preschool age, children are unhappyA systematic review of body dissatisfaction and sociocultural messages related to the body among preschool children
his body. Girls begin to perceive thinness as being good for up to three more years, and in five third of them refusesDietary restraint of 5-year-old girls: Associations with internalization of the thin ideal and maternal, media, and peer influences from the food to be slimmer.Imposing unnatural thinness increases the risk of a disorderly and poor eating habits, body dissatisfaction and provokes depression, with startBody dissatisfaction and disordered eating attitudes in 7- to 11-year-old girls: testing a sociocultural model these disorders at the age of 7-11 years.
Childhood obesity is dangerous, but from eating disorders sufferEating Disorders in Children and Adolescents: State of the Art Review More boys than from Type II diabetes. Every third high school student high school student and the sixth of these disorders are serious and require medical intervention.
Why kilograms are not redundant
Obesity replicated so that parents are willing to fight for the physical health of children in psychological damage. But thinness is not synonymous with health, and excessive weight does not necessarily mean disease. Moreover, it is not always such a superfluous.
To determine adult weight standards have used the body mass index, which is calculated according to the formula:
BMI = weight (kg) / rost² (m)
Ideally it should be equal to 18.5-24.9. This means that for the human growth of 170 centimeters and 54 kilograms and 71 kilograms - the norm. However, there are nuances, of which already Layfhaker I told.
The children are still difficult. In addition to BMI important weight standards for height and sex, history of development of the child and family members physique.
In some cases we can talk about the age distribution of fatWhich remains within the normal range. Or the child may be larger than their peers, simply because it develops at a different pace.
So do not grow children complexes from scratch, if you simply can not cope with anxiety. And even if there is a problem, you still do not do it, so how to replace the potential diseases associated with obesity, in the real-world disorder - so so caring.
The best think about this: research showsEffects of a prototype Internet dissonance-based eating disorder prevention program at 1- and 2-year follow-upThat the lack of obsession with excess weight prevents it set. It is because people give up dieting and unhealthy eating habits, which lead to breakdowns and other problems, contributing to weight gain.
How to discuss with your child the issue of weight
Do not comment on the weight of your children
Even if the child does not really hurt to lose weight, just to talk about it is not constructive. If someone says you have recovered, you can hardly perceive it as relevant advice, filled with concern. Children are not some special kind of people you can say whatever you want.
The child already knows that harmony - an important ideal. This repeat TV, books, movies, environment. Permanent imposition of subtle importance of even a thin children can doShared risk factors for mood-, eating-, and weight-related health outcomes shy, lower self-esteem, increase the risk of depression. the weight of criticism and encouragement to reduce it provokedCan it be harmful for parents to talk to their child about their weight? A meta-analysis negative perception of itself and lead to malnutrition.
If you experience for the child's health, not necessarily to build a conversation around weight and even more so to arrange his gastronomic ghetto until his relatives eat the fat and calorie content.
Do not shift the responsibility to the children, it's all on the parents. To normalize weight, think balanced menu for the whole family, take care of the presence in the house vegetables, arrange shared rides. If all this is done for the sake of health, then say so. A good state of health to any of you can not hurt.
Pay more attention to body function rather than appearance
Permanent transfer of external advantages child translates that these qualities are most valuable. This leads to an obsession with preserving such an important asset. But also completely avoid talking about the appearance will not work. The body exists, and it can do a lot of useful things: run fast, dance, paint. The man in general a lot of value, everything looks not limited.
For example, your daughter dreams of a modeling career. You can discuss it in the context of thinness and beauty. And we can talk about the importance of foreign language skills, stamina, and communication skills.
Be kind to your body
You can be careful with the child, but always circling in front of the mirror and blame themselves for curvy hips, small waist is not enough, hanging belly. Only, perhaps, you will still use more assertive language. Children hear it and learn, that with their bodies that something may not be right.
Maria Elec
Clinical psychologist and consultant.
It is very important atmosphere in which children grow up. If you speak to his daughter that she is beautiful in any weight and it is not important, while they themselves are constantly dieting and worried that it is not can get into the "doberemennoe" dress, the child will read the ambiguity in this matter and focus on your actions rather than the words. Work with the feeling of your body, take it. If you can do it to yourself, then for the younger generation it will be the best example to follow.
Talk about the variety of bodies
Do not discuss with the children build the problem - it's like that put his head in the sand when the lion approached. Not the best tactic. From what position in the conversation will take you depends on many things.
Explain that the bodies are different, and that's fine. That society overestimates thinness and manipulation on this topic are often aimed at the enrichment of organizations that promise to solve a non-existent problem. Of course, be guided by the age of the interlocutor and dosing information, that all was clear.
Such conversations are useful for children who have no problem with the weight. They will be easier to assess a person not on the form of his body.
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