Articles
Teenage Dieting Linked to Future Eating Disorders
There is no doubt that a large number of Australian teenagers are overweight or obese. Childhood obesity is an epidemic here in Australia, causing grave concern for the health and wellbeing of our future generations. Parents play a vital role in reversing this trend, but caution must be taken when discussing the issue of healthy weight maintenance when it comes to children and adolescents.
A recent article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Paediatrics highlighted that when parents repeatedly made comments about their children’s weight or pressured children to lose weight, these children were more likely to develop eating disorders ranging from food restriction to binge eating. They were also more likely to be overweight at a five year follow-up.
Focusing on a child’s weight issues tends to lead to reduced self body image, depression and low self esteem. These feelings lead to the teen undertaking a restricted diet gleamed from a magazine or the internet. This unhealthy dieting may give initial results, but it is unlikely the teen will be able to maintain it. It doesn’t work long term. Research indicates that adolescents who diet are more likely to gain weight during these critical teenage years. The overall weight gain often results from rebound binge eating.
Research has found that if parents discussed healthy eating as opposed to dieting or the need to lose weight, children were less likely to develop unhealthy eating practices. Parents should be educating children about the Australian Dietary Guidelines and how to follow a varied diet, rich in fruits, vegetables, wholegrain cereals and lean meats. They should model their eating behaviours to their children and promote the intake of healthy foods with what they buy and cook for the family. Teens are independent and most have access to money to purchase food at their leisure. Parents should educate their teenagers that an excessive intake of junk and takeaway foods will ultimately lead to weight gain.
Unfortunately many parents are not educated themselves when it comes to healthy eating and although they want the best for their children’s health, they do not possess the knowledge to model such healthy eating practices. Parents in this situation should employ two important tactics. Firstly, avoid discussing the child’s weight, their own weight or the weight of popular celebrities in front of the adolescent. Avoid discussing fad diets seen in magazines in front of children and do not undertake these diets themselves. Secondly, visit the family doctor or a dietitian for information on how to improve their knowledge on healthy eating and hence improve the dietary practices of themselves and their family. Dietitians can work with parents individually, with children or with the family as a whole to both educate and encourage change for a healthy diet and lifestyle.
Added to site on : Monday, 7 October 2013