Don't Nag Your Overweight Kid - Set a Healthy Example

A few years ago researchers at the University of Minnesota released a report backing up what many parents of overweight kids already know: Nagging, lecturing and threatening don’t work. Teenagers in the study who were told to go on diets were more likely to remain overweight than those who were not. In an effort to address the soaring numbers of obese kids, many schools have started sending home weight evaluations on children so there is more demand for parents to address this issue.

The study followed hundreds of adolescents for about 5 years. Even with similar eating patterns the kids whose parents pressured them to be on diets were much more likely to have increasing weight and eating disorder problems when compared to kids whose parents didn’t really know they were overweight and took no action.

So if coercion is counterproductive then what does work? Being a healthy role model for your children. Have healthy food available, eat at the family table on a regular basis and establish exercise as an activity the family enjoys together. That means less talking and more setting an example of the kind of healthy habits you want your children to take into adulthood.

1. STAY ACTIVE
THERE IS NO DOUBT ABOUT IT; EXERCISE HAS TREMENDOUS PHYSICAL BENEFITS, LIKE LOWERING BLOOD PRESSURE AND CHOLESTEROL AND DECREASING YOUR RISK OF DIABETES. EXERCISE IS ESSENTIAL TO ANY WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAM. STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT IT’S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP WEIGHT OFF WITHOUT WORKING OUT AT LEAST 3-4 TIMES A WEEK. MAKE IT FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY. GET YOUR SNEAKERS ON AND GET MOVING.

2. PRACTICE HEALTH SKILLS
PEOPLE THINK THAT ALL YOU NEED IS WILLPOWER TO MAINTAIN A HEALTHY WEIGHT. I HAVE LEARNED OVER THE YEARS IT TAKES MUCH MORE THAN THE ABILITY TO SAY “NO”. IT TAKES KNOWLEDGE OF NUTRITION, TRIAL AND ERROR, PRACTICE AND EXPERIENCE. THIS IS HOW ONE CAN LEARN TO MODEL THE SECRETS FOR LONG TERM GOOD HEALTH.

3. KEEP A JOURNAL
FOR YEARS I KEPT A FOOD AND TRAINING JOURNAL AND STILL REFER BACK TO THEM TO SEE HOW FAR ALONG I HAVE COME. THIS WILL BE YOUR FIRST STEP IN MAKING LASTING BEHAVIORAL CHANGES. THE PRACTICE OF WRITING WILL HELP YOU LOOK AT YOUR PATTERNS WHILE GAUGING SUCCESS.

4. MAKE GRADUAL CHANGES
CHANGES WILL HAPPEN WHEN YOU ARE READY FOR THEM. MAKE THE PROCESS A SLOW AND COMFORTABLE ONE THAT YOU CAN CARRY WITH YOU EVERY DAY. CONGRATULATE YOURSELF FOR THE BABY STEPS YOU TAKE. IT WILL BE EASIER TO MAKE THE CHANGES PERMANENT IF YOU REALLY TAKE YOUR TIME.

5. SEE THE JOURNEY, NOT THE DESTINATION

PEOPLE ASK ME ALL THE TIME HOW LONG IT TOOK ME TO LOSE 140 POUNDS AND GET HEALTHY. I TELL THEM I AM STILL WORKING ON IT AFTER 25 YEARS. IT HAS TAKEN TIME TO GET BETTER AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF MY LIFE. I DID NOT WAKE UP ONE DAY AND FIND A MAGIC BULLET. REALIZE THAT EVERY DAY YOU HAVE TO DO THE BEST YOU CAN AND NEVER PUT YOUR LIFE ON HOLD ESPECIALLY WHERE YOUR WEIGHT IS CONCERNED. GET BETTER EVERY DAY AND ENJOY WHAT LIFE BRINGS YOU ON THIS JOURNEY.

Hugs,
Debra