How to Talk to Your Child about Being Overweight

There are few conversations that parents would rather avoid more than confronting their own child about obesity. Injured feelings and ensuing insecurities are all but inevitable. No mom or dad wants to see the look on that little face when they broach the subject.

Unfortunately, the simple fact of the matter is that being overweight is not merely a superficial problem. Obesity carries a whole host of medical risks and debilitating conditions, many of which last for life. According to the American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, childhood obesity has more than doubled in the last three decades. In adolescence, it has quadrupled. As a result, rates of childhood diabetes and other conditions have risen dramatically.

As uncomfortable as it may be, if your child is overweight or obese, it is important to discuss the matter with them in a sensitive, responsible manner. Here are some things to keep in mind.

You are not trying to convince your child to look like a model on a magazine cover. There is nothing wrong with the way that they look and you are not trying to “fix” them.

If left unchecked, the consequences of childhood obesity can be devastating. Type 2 diabetes, asthma, hormone imbalances, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and other complications can easily ensue. All of these can and will severely impact your child’s quality of life. To make matters worse, children who are overweight or obese are more likely to carry these habits into adulthood, leading to a life of health problems.

Be careful to avoid pointing fingers, as it is only likely to make the child feel worse about the matter. Obesity is not a sign of weakness or a flaw in character. Take a constructive approach to talking about the issue. “I want to talk about our family leading a healthier life” rather than “If you didn’t eat so much, you wouldn’t be so fat.”

Even if you or your other family members don’t need to lose weight, there’s almost always room for improvement in everyone’s lifestyle. Instead of singling one child out, make a positive choice to take better care of yourself as well. Start preparing more fresh fruits and vegetables for everyone. Pick group family activities that involve exercise. Everyone will benefit from the changes and your child will feel like part of a team instead of the odd one out.

Do not expect your child to lose all of the weight overnight. Crash diets may help shed kilos quickly, but they can do just as much harm as good. Worse, when your child goes off the diet and back to their old eating habits, that extra weight will come right back. Instead of trying to change things overnight, focus on making sustainable, long-lasting changes. It might take longer to see results, but they’ll last a lifetime.

At the end of the day, the number on the scale is just one indication of overall health. Body composition, muscle to fat ratio, nutritional intake and fitness level also play a huge role. Rather than obsessing about a kilo here or there, help your child work towards positive goals. Reward them for running faster than before, for doing well on their school’s sports team, for eating their vegetables everyday. By doing so, you put the focus on what’s important. The numbers will follow.

References.

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Childhood Obesity Facts. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/obesity/facts.htm. Accessed November 21, 2014

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