As you learned in a post earlier this month (https://s2sbrownclinic.com/2013/10/strive-kids/) , we are starting a new kids wellness program called Strive Kids! We are really excited to start this project and help the children and families in our community learn how to achieve a healthy lifestyle. We fully understand that weight is always a sensitive subject and never easy to discuss, thus I thought I’d help you out with that. Here are some suggestions on ways to approach the topic thanks to the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics:
“Don’t Talk, Do Something: In general, if your child is elementary age or younger and you’re concerned about his or her weight, don’t talk about it; just start making lifestyle changes as a family. The best thing you can do is make it easy for kids to eat smart and move often. Serve regular, balanced family meals and snacks. Turn off televisions, video games and computers. Look for ways to spend fun, active time together.
Don’t Play the Blame Game: Never yell, scream, bribe, threaten or punish children about weight, food or physical activity. If you turn these issues into parent-child battlegrounds, the results can be disastrous. Shame, blame and anger are setups for failure. The worse children feel about their weight, the more likely they are to overeat or develop an eating disorder.
A United Front: As with any other important issue, make sure both parents and other important relatives are on the same page. Mixed messages about weight can have unhealthy consequences.
Talk with Your Health-Care Provider: If a health professional mentions a concern about your child’s weight, speak with him or her privately. Discuss specific concerns about your child’s growth pattern. Ask for ideas on making positive changes in your family eating habits and activity levels.
Seek Advice: For kids and teens, check out local programs and professionals who specialize in youth. Look for a registered dietitian with a specialty in pediatric weight management. Many hospitals and clinics have comprehensive programs with education and activities for both kids and adult family members. Some of these options may be covered by your health insurance plan.
Focus On the Big Picture: The key is health, not weight. If your family starts eating better and moving more, your children may “grow into” their weight as their height increases. Compliment your children on lifestyle behaviors (“Great snack choice,” or “You really run fast”) rather than on the loss of a pound or two.” http://www.eatright.org/Public/content.aspx?id=6848
StriveKids is open to all ages of kids, thus if you’re interested and would like to learn more about our program, please contact me!
-Kelsey Raml, MS, RD, LN
