News Headline of the Week - Nov. 16, 2007
A new study, proves that teen are more likely to continue practicing extreme eating or weight-control measures when parents highlight their teen’s weight problems, by making fun of them, continuously discussing the issue, and allowing unhealthy weight control methods, caused teens to have more emotional and physical issues about their weight.
Spotlighting Teen's Weight fuels Unhealthy Eating
When dealing with teens if you tell them to do something, they will often do the opposite?
How many times have we heard the story about the parents who refuse to let their teen date a person they consider “wrong” for their child, only to have the teen continue to see that person anyway? Or how many times do we force children to pick and choose those things that we want them to do, rather than those things that they want?
Guess what?
Positive reinforcement, encouragement, and support are probably the greatest factors that lead teens into having better self-esteem, confidence, and if necessary, the tools to adapt, change, and cope with today’s complex and demanding society.
Why not, set an example for your teenager? Don’t say anything about making any changes, just make them.
Stop buying junk food. Buy some fruit, put it in a bowl, and just leave it on the counter. Start regularly serving salad with dinner. Plan family meals at least couple of days a week.
Your teenager may still not eat everything you want them to, but by setting an example, you’re planting the seeds of change.
Changes don’t happen overnight, but over time, you’ll be doing your child a great service. And they just might grow up to be more adjusted, happier, and more self-fulfilling person.
It’s all about a Healthy Lifestyle.
© Iowa Avenue
Spotlighting Teen's Weight fuels Unhealthy Eating
When dealing with teens if you tell them to do something, they will often do the opposite?
How many times have we heard the story about the parents who refuse to let their teen date a person they consider “wrong” for their child, only to have the teen continue to see that person anyway? Or how many times do we force children to pick and choose those things that we want them to do, rather than those things that they want?
Guess what?
Positive reinforcement, encouragement, and support are probably the greatest factors that lead teens into having better self-esteem, confidence, and if necessary, the tools to adapt, change, and cope with today’s complex and demanding society.
Why not, set an example for your teenager? Don’t say anything about making any changes, just make them.
Stop buying junk food. Buy some fruit, put it in a bowl, and just leave it on the counter. Start regularly serving salad with dinner. Plan family meals at least couple of days a week.
Your teenager may still not eat everything you want them to, but by setting an example, you’re planting the seeds of change.
Changes don’t happen overnight, but over time, you’ll be doing your child a great service. And they just might grow up to be more adjusted, happier, and more self-fulfilling person.
It’s all about a Healthy Lifestyle.
© Iowa Avenue
Tags: diet, nutrition, obesity, parents, teens, weight
Views: 0
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Sarah on -
Plus there's an unhealthy image for teens of what a good weight is-- considering the fact that there is so much airbrushing in magazines, teens might be trying to attain an unhealthy (on the other end) weight as well. And some models keep it thin by skipping meals and smoking, so that's not really a healthy lifestyle in any case. (Well, not all, Heidi Klum has like three kids and still looks great.)
An OT suggestion-- maybe put these weekly discussions somewhere at the top of the page? I forget theey're here somtimes because I've already read the blog posts that are down at this point in the page.
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Permalink Reply by Lisa Newton on -
One reason Iowa Avenue and Weight1Minute were created is to help people realize that they don't have to be model thin to be healthy. Health starts from within, with a healthy and balanced eating plan and regular exercise. It's about a healthy lifestyle.
Thank you for your OT suggestion, which, as you can see, was taken. The weekly discussion board has now moved to just below the members section.
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Permalink Reply by SpinDiva on -
You're right about the airbrushing thing. Unfortunately, most teens don't realize that these people don't really look that smooth and scar free. On top of that they can afford to hire a nanny, a trainer and a cook so sleeping, exercising and eating are are easier for them to accomplish.
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Permalink Reply by Mark Salinas on -
Wow! I have a teenager and am probably guilty of too much discussion involving food and exercise. Such a challenge avoiding too much discussion!
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Permalink Reply by Lisa Newton on
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It's a thin line parents walk in order to get their kids eating healthy. I think the most important thing to do is role model the behavior you want your kids to emulate. Plus, family cooking, eating, and exercise is a great way to make health important without putting in the kids faces....................:)
Kids may not get it at first, but if the modeling continues, without pressure, ultimately, they'll see the light.
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Permalink Reply by SpinDiva on
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I can attest to this because as I have said before, my kids are cool about me being a health nut. Sounds worse than it is--believe me, we have our "cookies and milk" moments-that's when we want something so bad, we know it's not good for us but we eat it anyway. However, my teen daughter has begun making changes on her own. Changes I had been pushing for a while then stopped and let nature take its course. When I stopped pushing, I continued to do the healthy thing, she started on her own, asking to go shopping with me so she could pick some good healthy snakcs, she asked for more berries (her favorite of all being strawberries), it's pretty amazing to see this new behavior unfold.
To highlight what you said-- leadership by example, providing tools that help them succeed and of course, complementing children when they make the right choices is a huge plus.
Thanks.
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Permalink Reply by David on -
I agree, emotional intelligence springs from an underlining support of the people close to you. That way they are more inclined to make better choices for themselves based not out of spite, but from self-esteem.
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Permalink Reply by Susanna on -
Ahhhh - I can still hear my mother saying, "You're going to get fat if you eat that!" And my response was to eat it anyway with a "I'll show you" attitude.
She did not mean any harm, but I occassionally hear her voice in my head when I pick up a piece of chocolate. My response is pretty much still the same - 25 years later.
Bravo for your post.
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Permalink Reply by Lisa Newton on
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Thank you Susanna. My kids grew up with eating rules, for example, before they could eat an "snacks," they had to ask me first, and my response was, "How many fruits or vegetables did you eat today?" Unless they told me 4 or more, they didn't get their "snack," but instead, if they were hungry, a fruit or vegetable (which were always available in my house) was suggested.
By the time they finished eating their healthy snack, they were either full or had forgotten about their idea of a "snack."
After a while, they didn't bother to ask anymore; they just headed for the fruit and vegetable bin in the fridge.........................:)
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