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Mom's Diet Impacts Kids ; "We Innocently Deliver a Running Commentary About Our Weight, Our Waistlines and Our Lack of Willpower."

Posted on: Thursday, 19 January 2006, 09:00 CST

By Dr. Rallie McAllister

If losing weight is at the top of your list of New Year's resolutions, be careful how you tell your kids. New research suggests that children are strongly influenced by their parents' attitudes about being overweight and their approaches to dieting.

As part of a recent study conducted at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital and Children's Hospital Boston, researchers surveyed more than 9,000 adolescent boys and girls and their mothers. Their goal was to learn more about how children react to their moms' ideas about weight status, dieting and weight loss.

According to the study's lead author, Alison Field, ScD, "These days, most moms know better than to make negative comments about their kids' weight, but they may not realize that the comments they make about their own weight can be damaging to their children."

It's something that many mothers do almost subconsciously. In earshot of our children, we innocently deliver a running commentary about our weight, our waistlines and our lack of willpower.

While lots of women are worried about their own weight status, a high percentage of mothers appear to be just as concerned about the weight status of their children. Approximately half of the moms surveyed said it was important to them that their sons and daughters not be overweight.

Adolescent boys and girls who accurately perceived that their weight was important to their mothers were more likely to go on diets than kids who believed that their weight didn't matter to their moms. According to Field, "When kids think that their weight is an important issue to their mothers, it may be enough to encourage potentially damaging body-image concerns and behaviors at a young age."

Field agrees that childhood obesity is a serious problem, and one that warrants the concern of parents. Currently, nearly a third of American kids are overweight or obese.

Like adults, kids burdened with excess weight are more likely to develop a number of medical conditions. High blood pressure, diabetes, respiratory problems and sleep disorders can endanger the health of overweight children.

"Not only are there a lot of important physical concerns," noted Field, "there are often social consequences. Overweight kids are frequently teased and harassed, and this is very hard for children to deal with."

With this in mind, she recommends a positive approach to discussing weight and weight loss, no matter which family member it involves. "The bottom line is that adults shouldn't discuss weight as an isolated issue with their children, they should focus on the bigger picture of how to lead a healthy life," she said.

When weight loss is the goal, drastically reducing caloric intake for short periods of time may not be the best solution for kids or adults. "The problem with dieting is that it often backfires, and dieters frequently end up gaining more weight in the long run," said Field.

Because kids' bodies and brains are still growing and developing, a nutritious, balanced diet is especially important. Before cutting calories from a child's diet, parents should discuss their plans with the child's pediatrician.

Instead of making a New Year's resolution to lose weight by dieting, Field recommends that parents strive to be better role models. "If you resolve to adopt a healthier lifestyle for yourself and your family," she said, "this will send a better message to your children."

Being a better role model may call for making fewer trips to fast food restaurants in the coming year. Eating meals at home can help families avoid some of the unwanted fat and calories found in typical fast food fare.

Adopting a healthy lifestyle may involve a complete overhaul of the kitchen, as well. Tossing out high-calories junk foods and sugary soft drinks and replacing them with nutritious foods and beverages makes it easier to avoid temptation.

Parents should also strive to make exercise a fun part of the regular family routine. "Kids should get the idea that physical activity is a fundamental part of a healthy lifestyle, rather than a chore," Field said.

With the new year rolling in, Field believes that now is a great time for parents to initiate positive conversations about healthy living with their children, without placing too much emphasis on the importance of weight itself.

"One of the most important things that parents can do is to make exercising and eating nutritious foods part of the family's normal routine," she said. "Eating and exercising properly shouldn't be seen as temporary measures that are undertaken just to promote weight loss."

Dr. Rallie McAllister is a family physician in Kingsport, Tenn.

Source: Buffalo News

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