On FoxNews…Mother’s Dieting Linked to Kids’ Eating Disorders, Poor Body Image
I remember once, several months ago, when I guess I had mentioned one too many times that I needed to lose weight, my son startled me by musing out loud that he had to watch what he ate. He didn’t want to get fat. I, of course, reassured him that he was just fine and that his routine of normal eating and rough-housing would keep him on the right track. I’m blest with sons, so I don’t think I have to worry quite as much as those blessed with daughters, but it was a small illustration of the point of this news article.
A study in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association found that 5-year-old girls whose mothers dieted were twice as likely to be aware of dieting and weight-loss strategies as girls whose mothers didn’t diet.
“If their mothers diet, it’s a marker of how important weight is in the household,” said Alison Field, lead author of the Harvard study and an assistant professor of pediatrics.
Even small cues — such as making self-deprecating remarks about bulging thighs or squealing in delight over a few lost pounds — can send the message that thinness is to be prized above all else, Field said.
We need to be careful how we are talking about our diets, our weight loss, and ourselves. Messages of self-hatred because of our weight are probably particularly bad for little ones to hear. As we work on healthy living, I think it’s important that we present it in a positive light to our children. I know I’ve explained to my boys that Mommy has not taken very good care of the body God gave her… Too much food, not enough exercise. Now I’m trying to fix it so I can be a lot more fun and healthy. I think most children can understand that.
So how about you? What messages, deliberate or accidental, have you been sending your kids? Moms of girls, especially, how are they reacting to your fight against fat?
My daughter, Jessica(10 1/2), is actually starting to eat better too. Since I am NOT dieting, it makes it easier to talk to her about eating better. She was getting a little chunky (shhh), and that worried me because I could see my eating habits running into hers. I really don’t buy any more junk food. So we are all benefitting from this new way of life! Yay us!
Comment by Angie — August 10, 2006 @ 9:05 pm
We’ve dealt with this for a while since I have dieted on and off for my entire adult life. My daughter was concerned about her weight, especially since she was putting a bit of weight on around her middle. She doesn’t need to diet though! We discussed healthier choices, and that was great. And we also found out that it is common for girls her age to get a bit “thicker” in the middle for a while as they are getting ready for puberty. This helped a lot more. (she’s 10, btw).
My sons are fairly slim, so we fight to get enough calories INTO them, LOL. So much difference for me!
Comment by Tracy — August 10, 2006 @ 9:25 pm
Thankfully, mine are too little to notice, but that’s one thing that is spurring me on NOW to make changes. So they don’t have to suffer embarrassment over their weight or struggle like I did growing up.
Comment by stephanie — August 10, 2006 @ 11:07 pm
This is true - I’m a poster child for this. My mother was constantly dieting or bashing herself over her weight and appearance. My view was skewed (and I still fight that view sometimes).
I have three daughters and I never discuss my weight in front of them. Apparently though, when my daughter was in preschool she encountered girls (AGE THREE) who were worried about weight - yikes!! She started not eating and asking for only water and no dessert in her lunch. This upset me because I’d always been very cautious about the messages I was sending out.
Anyway, watch those girls - this article is true.
Comment by Blair — August 11, 2006 @ 8:06 am
Even if you have boys (like I do) you still need to watch for this. Here are some interesting stats:
Twenty years ago it was thought that for every 10-15 women with anorexia or bulimia, there was one man. Today researchers find that for every four females with anorexia, there is one male, and for every 8-11 females with bulimia, there is one male. (American Journal of Psychiatry, 2001: 158: 570-574)
Binge eating disorder seems to occur almost equally in males and females, although males are not as likely to feel guilty or anxious after a binge as women are sure to do.
Clinics and counselors see many more females than males, but that may be because males are reluctant to confess having what has become known as a “women’s problem.” Also, health professionals do not expect to see eating disorders in males and may therefore underdiagnose them.
Comment by Mandi — August 11, 2006 @ 8:36 am