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SALT LAKE CITY — Officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say obesity affects 17 percent of all children in the U.S. But how can parents talk to their child about his weight problem without hurting the kid's feelings?
Child care experts say motivating the kid by shaming him or calling him chubby is always a bad idea. The Children's Center Executive Director Dr. Douglas Goldsmith says when you tell a child they're fat and out of shape, it usually ends up becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy.
"I don't know a soul out there that wants to be told, ‘You need to lose weight,' because it's hard work," he said.
Researchers from the CDC say obesity is affecting triple the number of kids than it did a generation ago. But, the child might not think they have a problem.
"Part of what we want to do is find out is if the child shares the concern, because somebody telling you that you need to lose weight, if you're not really concerned about your weight, you're not going to lose weight," Goldsmith said.
- Encourage healthy eating habits
- Look for ways to make favorite dishes healthier
- Remove calorie-rich temptations
- Help kids stay active
- Reduce sedentary time
He says it may be best not to even mention weight at all. Instead, it may be more effective for parents to emphasize how the whole family is going to be healthy.
"It makes it more simple for the child to go along with the family than to be a target and a problem in the family," Goldsmith said.
What about the kids who may be bullied at school over their weight? How can parents boost the self-esteem of their child? Goldsmith says it's crucial that parents teach them how to fight back, in a way.
"When it comes to the bullying, parents should say, ‘Here are some things that you might say to a child that calls you fat.' ‘Here's a way to handle it with humor.'"
