Healthy Kids, No Dieting Required!

Weight Watchers aka "WW" made headlines for their acquisition of Kurbo Health a weight-loss app for children. The truth is that intentional weight loss is ineffective for over 90% of dieters, and the earlier that kids start to diet the more likely they are to develop disordered eating behaviors. 

I'm anti-diet for kids & adults so here are my 3 tips for what to do instead of putting your child on a diet.

1. Stop Moralizing Food

Food has no moral value, it's not "good" or "bad". Observe the language you use around your children. There are lots of ways to talk about food- check out @kids.eat.in.color for some ideas on this topic.

2. Integrate Joyful Movement

Moving can & should be fun! If organized sports teams aren't a good fit for your family, try doing something that you like with your children. Instead of focusing on calories burned or punishment based attitudes towards exercise focus on how great it feels to move, however you choose to do it. 

3. Communicate Openly & Frequently

Let's be real, no one can be a perfect parent. It's impossible to foresee every challenge your children will face. If you keep the lines of communication open you're more likely to see bumps in the road and help your kids navigate them. Same goes for food, health & body issues- if you're always talking these won’t be as taboo & you'll build trust with your kids. Instead of forcing them to change or diet, listen, question & support.

Check-out my most recent Instagram TV post (below!) on these strategies & read more about the science behind dieting and children: www.lilyfontas.com/diet-data

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A post shared by Lily Fontas ✨ Ed.M, She/Her (@lilybirdlifts) on Aug 30, 2019 at 4:52pm PDT

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Lily Fontas, Ed.M holds a master’s degree from Boston University and is a certified personal trainer and health coach. Her goal is to help others reach their health and wellness goals without blame, shame or dieting. She works with clients globally as a virtual coach and trains clients in-person in Oakland, CA. 

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