Why do kids diet? (April 2011)
Many times kids diet as they have been restricted from an early age or they have poor body image. As a result, they lack the ability to self regulate their food based on their internal cues or hunger, fullness and appetite levels.
When they get out on their own, the kids turn to a way to manage. Dieting seems to be the only way they figure things out; by regulating what they are eating and how much of it.
What to do about it? It is important to raise your child to be a competent eater. Get help in storing confidence if you find it doesn’t reappear on its own. Kids assume that dieting is apart of being a grown up. Since many adults are unhappy with their own bodies they are constantly striving to be thinner. As a parent a very important goal is have your own healthy body image and not have any foods bias/rules. The bottom line is do not restrict or diet!
Children may diet because their coach of the sport they play tells them that they will be faster if they lose weight. This destructive advice creates a strong impression on the child.
What to do about it? Tell your child and the coach that weight loss is certainly not appropriate. Have a talk with your child before she/he begins and weight conscious sports (gymnastics, ice skating, wrestling, ballet). Make it clear to both your child and the coach that your child’s involvement is dependent on having a healthy relationship with food.
Children’s friends diet. It’s trendy.
What to do about it? Teach your child to be a competent eater with learning how to eat when they are hungry and stop when they are satiated. Teach your child about their internal regulators so they will not when they have had enough to eat or if they are eating mindlessly. DON’T KEEP YOURSELF ON A DIET AND DON”T BE CRITICAL OF YOUR OWN BODY. As a parent do not collude with the dieting trend.
What to do about it? Encourage your child to hang in there and let him or her know that you are doing your part as a parent by providing the food and the child is doing his job of eating. His internal regulator will allow his body to be the shape that it is naturally meant to be.
What to do about it? Be clear about your own struggle. Be ready to listen, ask questions, DO NOT BE CRITICAL, and do not try to fix it. Reassure your child that they are beautiful just they way they are.
For monthly tips a great newsletter to get is by my colleague Ellyn Satter, MS RD whom parts of this article were derived from her last newsletter. Her website is www.ellynsatter.com
