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I am asking this question because of my four year old daughter. She is also one of my dc kids.
About a year ago I was watching a weight loss show with her. It may have been Biggest loser. I cannot recall. A shirtless, obese man stepped up on the scale, and she asked why he looked like that. I told her that you might get obese if you don't take care of your body by eating heathy, drinking water, and getting exercise. I also made sure to tell her that we eat healthy to feel good, be energetic, and ward off sickness. I made a special point to bring those things up as well. Now, she talks about not getting fat all the time. She reminds me constantly that I need to make sure to exercise and eat healthy so that I won't get fat! I always remind her that we also eat healthy to FEEL HEALTHY. She is stuck on that one point!
I am wondering if it is wrong to tell children that they may get fat. I was told in a psychology class to avoid obsessing about weight in front of chidren, as it may create a negative body image. I have always made sure to stress the point about being healthy for health reasons.
As a child I was praised for being skinny, and when I gained a little weight I missed the "skinny attention" so I developed very unhealthy eating habits to stay thin. As a super thin teenager who was still being praised by adults, I decided that I wanted to be a healthy weight. When I began eating normally, I was scolded by a lady at church who told me that if I ever got fat like her I would never get skinny again as an adult! I stopped eating again. As an adult I have a weird body type(short torso) that makes me appear to look pregnant if I gain one pound over 110. This is not just body image. I have been asked by strangers, and even was asked to be honest about my pregnancy at a job interview. It's a curse. I have very healthy eating and exercise habits now. I eat every 3 hours. 3 meals, and 2 snacks.
Back to the original question. This day and time we are told to not tell our children anything negative. There is always a study thrown in our faces about if you say this that will happen. I could totally see a 1950s housewife saying, "Don't eat that Johhny. You'll get fat." Johnny went on to be a normal functioning human being. I don't think of it is a big dea, but then I think back at my own struggles with body image. I have to stop my mom from telling my 10 year old how skinny she is all of the time!
My little one seems to be obsessed with this. I am not sure how else I could have answered her question about the obese man on TV. At the time I thought it was a fine answer. I also wonder if the obesity epedemic in children may be tied to the fact that we are not allowed to tell them to stop overeating anymore. I'm torn! Is it that big of a deal? She talks about it evreryday, and she's 4! She says she needs to go outside and run, so that she can be healthy and not fat!It doesn't matter how many times I bring up the other benefits of living a healthy lifestyle!
About a year ago I was watching a weight loss show with her. It may have been Biggest loser. I cannot recall. A shirtless, obese man stepped up on the scale, and she asked why he looked like that. I told her that you might get obese if you don't take care of your body by eating heathy, drinking water, and getting exercise. I also made sure to tell her that we eat healthy to feel good, be energetic, and ward off sickness. I made a special point to bring those things up as well. Now, she talks about not getting fat all the time. She reminds me constantly that I need to make sure to exercise and eat healthy so that I won't get fat! I always remind her that we also eat healthy to FEEL HEALTHY. She is stuck on that one point!
I am wondering if it is wrong to tell children that they may get fat. I was told in a psychology class to avoid obsessing about weight in front of chidren, as it may create a negative body image. I have always made sure to stress the point about being healthy for health reasons.
As a child I was praised for being skinny, and when I gained a little weight I missed the "skinny attention" so I developed very unhealthy eating habits to stay thin. As a super thin teenager who was still being praised by adults, I decided that I wanted to be a healthy weight. When I began eating normally, I was scolded by a lady at church who told me that if I ever got fat like her I would never get skinny again as an adult! I stopped eating again. As an adult I have a weird body type(short torso) that makes me appear to look pregnant if I gain one pound over 110. This is not just body image. I have been asked by strangers, and even was asked to be honest about my pregnancy at a job interview. It's a curse. I have very healthy eating and exercise habits now. I eat every 3 hours. 3 meals, and 2 snacks.
Back to the original question. This day and time we are told to not tell our children anything negative. There is always a study thrown in our faces about if you say this that will happen. I could totally see a 1950s housewife saying, "Don't eat that Johhny. You'll get fat." Johnny went on to be a normal functioning human being. I don't think of it is a big dea, but then I think back at my own struggles with body image. I have to stop my mom from telling my 10 year old how skinny she is all of the time!
My little one seems to be obsessed with this. I am not sure how else I could have answered her question about the obese man on TV. At the time I thought it was a fine answer. I also wonder if the obesity epedemic in children may be tied to the fact that we are not allowed to tell them to stop overeating anymore. I'm torn! Is it that big of a deal? She talks about it evreryday, and she's 4! She says she needs to go outside and run, so that she can be healthy and not fat!It doesn't matter how many times I bring up the other benefits of living a healthy lifestyle!
: will wait
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