Children and Weight

Often, children grow up afraid to be themselves. A common way for this fear to manifest itself is in their weight. “Am I too fat?” “Too skinny?” “Do I look like I’m supposed to?” More and more children ask these questions, and at younger ages. More and more of them end up suffering from eating disorders.

Children learn to distrust their bodies:

             Experts say that children are born with a natural instinct about how much to eat. They know when they’re hungry, and they know when they’re full. They like to eat several small meals a day (which is what dieticians recommend, but which goes against social norms), and they generally don’t like to gorge. They do need firm guidance about what to eat, and – contrary to popular belief – they’re fully capable of learning to love peas, carrots, lettuce and meat. (See our pages on Diet and Nutrition and on tips for getting your young children to eat properly.)

            Unfortunately, many children are surrounded by adults who pressure them to override these natural instincts. They’re pressured to finish meals and to eat larger amounts than they want. They’re allowed – even encouraged – to eat the wrong foods, to snack when they’re upset or bored, and to snack when they’re actually thirsty. Sadly, children who’ve been raised on fast food and salty or sugary snacks are growing up with weight problems, self-image problems, diabetes, high cholesterol or hardened arteries. Poor lifestyle habits quickly become ingrained, and when they do need to make changes, they have few or no healthy habits to fall back on. Eventually, they learn to view their body as a troublesome pest, a battleground or as a test of their ability to fit in socially. No longer a joy to them, their body becomes a burden and a cross to bear.

Many of these children will die early from a disease brought on (or exacerbated) by their poor eating habits and sluggish lifestyles. Thankfully, others might be able to learn as adults the things they should have learned as children – how to live and eat in a healthy way.

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