Over the past 10 years, cigarette use has dropped dramatically in the U.S. Many people cite not only an increased awareness of the dangers, but also an increased social stigma - smoking just isn't cool anymore. Many of these same people, however, warn that trying to create a similar social stigma around obesity won't work.

"[Kelly] Brownell authored a 2006 study showing that when overweight people feel stigmatized because of their weight, they respond by eating more and giving up on diets. 'Obese people are under such enormous pressure to lose weight,' he says... 'To think that you could add much more to that pressure is wishful thinking.' The stress may make them turn to food for comfort or, as one researcher hypothesizes, might even contribute to the physiological processes of obesity..."

Instead, experts encourage an emphasis on healthy lifestyle choices like exercise and nutritious food. Stressing the importance of these factors rather than the numbers on the scale is likely to have better long-term results. Source: U.S. News

Labels: rejection, responsibility, society

A new study concludes that children are less active in summer and therefore gain weight during those months.

Researchers from Ohio State University and Indiana University studied the growth and weight records of 5380 kindergartners and first graders. They found that increases in children's body mass indices (BMIs) doubled during the summer months but fell to normal during the school year.

Dr. Betsy Keller, a professor of sport sciences at Ithaca College in New York, commented on the study: "The big question in my mind is what are the parents doing with these kids during the summer? Unless they're paying attention to their child's level of activity and diet, with each passing summer they are just adding to the risk of them becoming overweight. These are five year-olds, after all. They're not going to the grocery store."

The study appears in the April issue of the American Journal of Public Health.

Labels: exercise, rejection, summer_camp

If your overweight child seems to be overly sensitive to anticipated rejection from others due to her appearance, beware. When self-worth is based entirely upon appearance, it's harmful for both mental and physical health, according to new research by Lora Park, Ph.D., a University at Buffalo psychologist. Sensitivity to rejection can lead to development of excessive dieting, compulsive exercising, binging and purging—as well as lowered self-esteem.

The good news is that you can do something to reduce the damaging effects of thinking negatively about appearance by reminding your child of her personal strengths. Daily affirmations of personal strengths help people cope with insecurities regarding appearance, says Park.

Another intervention that helps, according to Parks' research, is reminders that there are those who care. Reminding your child that many people love him can improve self-esteem and minimize sensitivity to rejection.

Labels: mental_health, physical_health, rejection