All of the talk about childhood obesity is causing some parents to panic. Their panic is leading to extreme food restrictions and criticisms of their children that may be making the problem worse.
"Food restrictions, pressuring and criticism don't work at any age, but especially not during adolescence, said [David] Ludwig, who believes such coercive strategies can have negative consequences. 'These methods teach children what not to do instead of what to do,' he said. 'They can leave a child feeling upset, erode self-esteem and take a toll on the parent-child relationship.'"
Studies have shown that restricting a child's food actually has the reverse effect. A child who's denied certain types of food, is more likely to become preoccupied with food and more like to overeat when given the chance. Read more at
TheOlympian.com.
More important that rapid weight loss, are learning how to make
healthy lifestyle choices. Learn how to make small, but important changes, in the
Guide to Behavior Change.
Labels: criticism, diet, parenting