By Alicia Sparks, Psych Central, June 10, 2019.
As it turns out, not only will teasing an overweight child or teenager not help motivate them to lose weight; the teasing could actually contribute to an increase in weight.
According to a new study, children who were teased or ridiculed about their weight saw an annual increase in weight by 33 percent.
Researchers at the National Institutes of Health theorize weight-associated stigma might have led to the youths engaging in unhealthy behavior, such as avoiding exercise and binge eating, or that the stress of being teased and ridiculed stimulates the release of cortisol, the stress hormone that can lead to weight gain.
So, how can we help motivate overweight or obese children and teens to eat healthier and get more active, without coming across as teasing, bullying, or judgmental? Keep these factors in mind.
As your child’s parent, you’re the biggest role model. Whether she knows it or not, your child is looking to you for direction when it comes to lifestyle choices so take inventory of your attitude toward diet and exercise! WebMD lists numerous ways you can plan age-appropriate activities the whole family can do together.
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