In response to the release of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) clinical practice guideline (CPG) on child weight, Kids Eat in Color issued a position statement and a parents’ guide for medical visits.
We focus on the health of children and we help parents do the same.
Whatever a child’s weight, there are things we can do to help kids have a healthy diet and lifestyle. The first part of this is learning to focus on the health of your child.
We’re supportive of families supporting the health of their children in the way that is best for them.
In this article, you’ll find five ways to focus on your child’s health.
1. Think about your child’s health instead of their weight
If your focus is weight, your only tool is weight loss, medication or surgery. If your focus is health, you have a toolbox full of tools.
If your child is at a high weight or is given a weight-related diagnosis, it does not mean that your child is sick right now.
At the same time, there are health conditions that are more common in children with higher weights. Here are some examples:
- High blood pressure
- Prediabetes or type 2 diabetes
- High cholesterol
- Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Instead of asking yourself, “How can I help my child lose weight?” here are some other questions you can ask yourself:
- “What can I do to help my child be healthy?”
- “How can I help my child have a positive medical visit?”
- “Would my child benefit from more fruits or vegetables being offered?”
- “Is there something I need to take out of their diet because of a medical condition?”
- “Are there any things that are not a good thing for my child’s health that I can change?”
If your child has a medical condition such as high blood pressure, diabetes or high cholesterol, learn as much as you can about this condition. As you learn, you can find out if there are specific nutrition or lifestyle changes that will help your child improve their health.
You can focus on your child’s health without putting them on a weight loss diet. (1)
2. Model focusing on your own health
Your child will learn to take care of their body from the way you take care of your body. Here are some ways to focus on your health, rather than your weight:
- Speak kindly about your body and avoid saying negative things about how you look.
- Do not weigh yourself in front of your child.
- Talk about what you are eating to help you be strong and feel good, not about a diet you are on.
We talk more about this in our article about healthy diets and eating recommedations for children.
3. Watch your child for signs of disordered eating and mental health challenges
If your child is losing weight quickly, they seem to be restricting how much food they are eating, or you suspect they are binging and purging or excessively exercising, you should contact a mental health provider right away.
You can also discuss this with your child’s medical provider if they are familiar with eating disorders. If they are not or they do not acknowledge your concerns, you can ask for a referral to a mental health provider.
Here are other behaviors that may indicate your child has an unhealthy relationship with food:
- Logging or tracking foods or calories.
- Preoccupation with food or healthy foods.
- New, unexplained stomach or GI problems.
- Sudden change in mood combined with another symptom.
- Menstrual changes.
- Excuses to not eat in front of you.
If your child is putting themselves on a diet, that is not a healthy behavior regardless of their weight. This often leads to poor physical and mental health over time. (1)
4. Prepare for your child’s medical visits to have a positive experience
Medical visits can be a helpful tool in caring for the health of your child. At the same time, because of weight stigma and bias, the visits could lead to focusing on your child’s weight instead of their health.
Your child’s medical provider will weigh your child and calculate their BMI. If the BMI is a certain number or above, your child may be diagnosed with “overweight” or “obesity.”
This is not an ideal calculation and can be unhelpful. It is, however, the calculation that is being used in the medical field. If your child is diagnosed with “overweight” or “obesity,” it will give your child’s provider the ability to order more testing to learn more about your child’s health.
We have created a useful guide for parents for medical visits and we highly recommend reading it.
Our guide for parents for medical visits will help you prepare for a medical visit and will give you important questions to ask during the visit to focus on your child’s health. It will also help you help your child to have a positive experience.
5. Learn about your child’s health
If your child’s medical provider recommends further health testing for your child, it is because they think it will help them understand your child’s health better. Not all children with a diagnosis of “overweight” or “obesity” will have another condition.
If the tests come back and there is a concern, make sure to discuss the results with your child’s medical provider so that you fully understand the concern.
Based on the results, you may choose to change your family’s diet and exercise habits.
For example, if your child has a health condition such as diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, etc., it will be important to change your family’s diet and lifestyle as best as you can.
Focusing on your child’s health can help them have a positive experience in the healthcare system as well as in their life. It can also help protect them from some of the effects of focusing on weight.
