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 wonât 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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About the AuthorLily lives in the Bay Area of California with her husband. She loves to lift heavy, watch vintage movies and cheer on her fellow warrior queens! Archives
December 2022
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