Another blog post by our Guest Blogger Crystal B. (I feel behind on these so I am posting a couple of them today).
As Americans we are constantly bombarded with messages that we need to be healthier, usually accompanied with some kind of image. But the problem with that is this: the image often does not match the message. The message says, “Eat well, take care of your body, live longer and get more out of life.” The image right next to it says, “Be thin.” But thin does not equal healthy. In fact, being slightly underweight is harder on your heart and other organs than being slightly overweight.
My Freshmen year of college I began a search into the world of eating disorders when I chose the topic for a research paper. As I worked on the paper, I began to notice many people around me who looked just fine complaining that they needed to lose weight. Every third commercial, at least, was something about weight loss. And I suddenly saw all the bones that stuck out on the models and actresses portrayed all around me. The power of these attitudes and images are not lost on our children. Clinics for the treatment of eating disorders have seen a rise in the last couple of years of girls ages 10 and under.
While it is true that many people, including children, need to lose weight, we must ensure that the message we are sending is correct. Are your words, actions, and attitudes teaching your children to be healthy, to eat too much, or to eat too little? If you never make a single negative comment about your child’s weight but they constantly see you dieting, that alone can be enough to start an eating disorder. This is not a matter to be taken lightly, it is just as important to talk to your kids about eating disorders as it is to talk to them about drugs. You may even think they are fine when they are not, certain disorders have little to know visible symptoms. Even if your children are fine now, by being open about the difficult subject of body image present you may help prevent serious issues in the future. Please, don’t let your kids shrink away from you.
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