How To Help Children And Youth Affected By Obesity
Obesity can often be physically and emotionally harmful. Without help, being overweight or obese can be very hard on a child or youth’s self-esteem/confidence and can lead to chronic illness–including diabetes and sleep apnea. Obesity can make learning and living activities challenging. Criticism, worry and teasing can be very painful and can lead to lower self-esteem. Obesity can be due to and complicated by a combination of: family and community patterns of overeating and under exercising; medical conditions; chronic depression, anxiety and other mental illnesses; physical and/or emotional discomfort from unhealed accidents, traumas, and abuses of all kinds; eating high calorie, high fat, high sugar foods and sweetened drinks as entertainment; eating as a distraction and/or defense against uncomfortable emotions; genetic factors; allergies; economic poverty; prolonged stress and anxiety; exposure to environmental pollutants; nutritional imbalances.
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First, We Would Investigate |
Second, We Would Investigate |
For Long Term Support |
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On Our Own We Would Try: • Replace sodas, juices, sugars, fats, fast foods with water, veggies, whole grains, nuts, protein, fruit, slow food • Less or No TV, Movies, Video/Computer Games • Long Walks/Hikes • Bedtime Stories and Chats • Wholesome Pleasures • Back Rubs and Foot Massages • Nature • Pets |
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For Parents: • Be a role model for healthy eating and activity. • Enjoyable family exercise for an hour a day can also help. • Slow down the preparation and eating of food. • Eat out less. • Limit sweetened drinks and juices. • As a family, practice being hungry and get help with the troublesome feelings that can emerge. • Seek help from community support groups. If you can’t find a group, start one. • Avoid extreme diets, diet pills, unless medically supervised. • Avoid teasing and nagging. • Have realistic expectations about weight loss. |