Situation Seven: Weight Bias
A parent or teacher who doesn’t know you or your family well questions you about whether your child who has obesity is allowed to have a birthday cupcake or participate in an athletic activity. What do you say?
What a parent needs to know:
Children who are stigmatized due to their weight experience negative outcomes, including psychological damage, unhealthy eating behaviors and averting physical activity.
Stigma can include the words used to describe a child’s weight. Parents have reported that “weight” and “unhealthy weight” were preferable to “obese,” “extremely obese,” or “fat” when speaking with their child’s doctor.
“Children and adolescents with overweight/obesity experience stigma and bias from peers. Parents and teachers also demonstrate weight bias toward children.”28
Tips for what a parent might say:
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Why do you ask that? |
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You know, my child struggles with carrying extra weight and it’s a really hard issue to address. It makes it even harder when I get questions from people who may not understand the chronic nature of the condition and what we’re doing as a family to try and help. |
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We joke about not having a parenting handbook, and I have to tell you, of all the things I’ve had to deal as a parent (like talking about job changes, sex, drugs, etc.), this has been the hardest issue to address. |
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One of the reasons why it’s been so hard is that I didn’t know what to say and I didn’t know where to turn for help. As a parent, I also felt personally responsible which made it that much harder. |
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But today, we understand that this is a health problem and that is how we are addressing it. |
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We’re trying to tackle it as a family because as a young child, he/she is going to need the support of family and friends. |
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And we’re trying to establish goals to all become healthier. Because at the end of the day, that’s what this is about. |
