- Parents are advised that it is important their child knows that they are there for them, without judgment.
- More often than not, children who struggle with their weight normally experience bias, stigma and bullying.
No parent wants to watch their child struggle with their weight, particularly if it is affecting their health and well-being.
A parent mustn't blame the child for the problem and instead try to understand issues that have contributed to the weight gain.
Parents are advised that it is important their child knows that they are there for them, without judgment.
More often than not, children who struggle with their weight normally experience bias, stigma and bullying.
An article by United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) on parenting says it is important to know that a child’s weight can be influenced by the interaction between genetics, early life experiences and by their environment.
“Weight gain can be expected when a child eats, plays and learns in environments that encourage low levels of physical activity and high consumption of cheap and easy-to-access energy-dense food that is high in unhealthy fats and sugar,” it says.
UNICEF says weight gain is the body’s normal response to an abnormal environment.
“In addition, children can sometimes engage in unhealthy eating to combat stress, boredom or to comfort themselves when feeling anxious or sad,” the article reads in part.
Parents are advised to refrain from using stigmatising language or making negative comments about people’s bodies.
UNICEF says an easy place to start is adopting a person-first language when speaking about overweight and obesity.
"Person living with overweight (not an overweight person),” it cites as an example.
Parents are further advised to encourage an open dialogue and invite their children to share their thoughts and feelings about body image whenever they arise.
“If your child makes a negative comment about their weight, try to learn what’s behind it.”
UNICEF says parents should also encourage self-esteem and praise qualities in other areas that are not related to their weight.
An example: “I was proud of how hard you studied for that exam,” or “I love how kind you are to your younger brother.”
Parents are also advised to remain aware of threats to the mental health and well-being of their child as it relates to their confidence and body image issues.
“These can range from social media posts stereotyping weight or encouraging eating disorders, to the constant corporate marketing of unhealthy junk food targeting children.”
Parents are also encouraged to focus on “health and healthy goals” rather than weight loss, unless advised by a health professional.
“Healthy eating and physical activity behaviours do not become routine overnight. It takes time, effort and perseverance from you and your child to make changes that last.”
UNICEF says parents should choose nutritious, whole foods like fresh fruits and vegetables, encourage physical activity, promote sufficient sleep, and refrain from negative talk about their or others’ weight.
“No matter your weight, you can help to support your child by leading the way with healthy habits. Explore the different food groups together, learn what nutrients are needed as part of a healthy eating and discuss why certain foods are better options than others.”
Parents are encouraged to do their best to discourage ultra-processed foods and beverages that are high in salt, sugar and fat, but avoid trying to ban certain foods completely as it could lead to greater cravings.
UNICEF further says parents should encourage outdoor play and being active together as a family.
“From age three years and up, children should be active for at least one hour each day, but this can be broken up into short periods of 15 to 20 minutes.”