First, lets establish that nutrition and diet culture are two different animals. Most parents want our kids to eat vegetables, for example. But its worth examining why: Chances are, you may be less concerned about preventing scurvy than you are about your childs current or future body size, Fonnesbeck said. Theres eating for health and nourishment, and then there is eating for weight control. They are actually not one and the same. And eating for weight control poses specific risks for kids: Research shows that dieting now can increase your childs risk for developing an anorexia, bulimia or another eating disorder later on, which is why, in 2016, the American Academy of Pediatrics published a report advising parents and pediatricians to focus on creating a healthy lifestyle rather than weight and weight loss with children.
[What to do if youre worried about your childs weight.]
This is not to say you cant help children learn to love vegetables or should stop encouraging them to be physically active. But in most cases, we dont need to do much more than offer a variety of healthy foods on a regular meal schedule and then let kids decide for themselves how much to eat, as I explored last month. But parents need to remove the diet and weight loss piece of the equation because kids will pick up on that pressure even if its largely unspoken. When kids see diet culture messaging and absorb their parents worries about body size, it can instill a sense of guilt and fear around food that may impact their relationship with eating for years or even decades to come, Harrison said.
This is also true, by the way, if youre laid back about your kids food choices but are meanwhile launching yourself onto a January cleanse, detox, diet or lifestyle plan. A 2018 survey of 507 adults found that 64 percent recalled one or both of their parents dieting during their childhood; and those participants were more likely to recall parental criticism of their own weight and eating behaviors than adults who didnt grow up with dieting parents. A 2016 study that followed 181 mother-daughter pairs for six years found that the girls with mothers on diets were significantly more likely to start dieting themselves before age 11. The study noted that dieting is generally associated with an increased likelihood of overeating, greater weight gain and chronic health problems.
Parents do need to know that kids are likely to notice if youre not eating or are doing weird things with food, Harrison said. That sends a message that you think food is bad, or you dont like your body and to a childs brain it can seem like thats what it means to be a grown-up. At the same time, Harrison emphasized that parents shouldnt feel shame for bringing these messages home; in our current culture its virtually unavoidable. But it can be motivating to realize that healing your own relationship with food and your body is going to be helpful for your children as well.
Instead of opting for yet another diet this year, Fonnesbeck encouraged parents to ask, What can I do to make a positive impact on my and my familys health and well-being without the risk of a diet? She suggested setting small but achievable goals like cooking more at home, eating breakfast regularly or spending more time outside. You might also resolve to change the way you talk about food and bodies with your kids to help them listen to their bodies more. Try, What is your tummy telling you? in place of How can you still be hungry?! And, Youll know how much your body wants and needs is a better way to help kids regulate their own treat intake than Youve had enough cookies today.
See more here:
Your Baby Doesnt Need to Go Paleo - The New York Times
