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Strategies for non-dieting |
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Don't step on it, it makes you cry |
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Promote non-dieting practicesChildren learn about dieting from adults, the media and their peers. They learn messages that losing weight is good and putting on weight is bad. Given that weight gain in healthy and normal for every child, these messages only set children up to fail and provide them with negative body image. Here is what you can do to make a difference. |
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Role model healthy eating
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Do as I say but not as I do tends to ring hollow with children. What you do and say about food is one of the most important ways children learn about eating |
| Take a family approach to healthy eating | One of the best ways to get your children to eat in a healthy way is to ensure the whole family has a healthy eating approach. This also means the house is not full of sometimes foods and drinks for a few members of the house and not others |
| Role model non-dieting practices | Children learn dieting practices from adults. There is good evidence that dieting is not effective for long term adult weight loss and a lifelong healthy eating approach is a better approach. |
| Avoid commenting and judging on weight gain or loss | It a cultural norm to praise someone who has lost weight and it is common for people to be criticised for putting on weight. Children listen and learn to these judgments |
| Praise non-weight and non-appearance attributes | Focusing on your child's weight and appearance, even in a positive way, highlights a value system related to bodies. This can lead to poor body image and an over-emphasis on weight and appearance. Praise your child to develop values your wish to encourage in your child (thoughtful acts, achievements, ways they behave...) |
| Take scales away from children's access | Children's weight should not be taken out of the context of a health assessments which includes BMI-for-age not weight is isolation. Regular weighing may promote dieting practices as children put on weight as part of normal development |
| Use weight status to advantage | If your child has a healthy weight status and is dieting, explain their health status and how dieting is harmful to health |
| Sort out your own body issues | Children are very perceptive. If your have weight or body image problems or regularly diet try to sort it out. Visit www.ifnotdieting.com.au or read the book by Dr Rick Kausman, If not dieting , then what. These issues can take a long time to address so try to keep a healthy attitude in front of children at all times |
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