From the Guidelines
To help a 12-year-old daughter develop a healthy relationship with food and reduce eating disorder and obesity risks, parents should focus on encouraging a positive body image regardless of weight. This approach is supported by the American Heart Association's dietary recommendations for children and adolescents, which emphasize the importance of promoting positive eating behaviors and a healthy body image 1. The key strategies include:
- Modeling positive eating behaviors and a healthy body image
- Creating a home environment where all foods fit in moderation, with regular family meals that include a variety of nutritious options
- Encouraging intuitive eating by teaching her to recognize hunger and fullness cues
- Avoiding using food as rewards or punishment
- Supporting her developing body image by complimenting her character and abilities rather than appearance
- Promoting regular physical activity as something enjoyable rather than a weight control method
- Limiting exposure to unrealistic body images in media and having open communication about body changes during puberty.
Some important considerations to keep in mind include:
- Limiting sedentary behaviors, such as watching TV or playing video games, to no more than 1 to 2 hours per day 1
- Encouraging physical activity, such as walking or biking, and reducing time spent in sedentary behaviors 1
- Involving family members and the community in supporting and reinforcing nutrition education 1
- Being aware of the potential negative impact of parental dieting and weight control habits on children's eating behaviors and body image 1.
By following these strategies, parents can help their 12-year-old daughter develop a healthy relationship with food and reduce her risk of eating disorders and obesity.
From the Research
Strategies for Developing a Healthy Relationship with Food
To help a 12-year-old daughter develop a healthy relationship with food and reduce her risk of eating disorders and future overweight or obesity, several strategies can be considered. The most effective approach is likely to be one that promotes a positive body image and healthy eating habits.
- Encouraging a positive body image regardless of weight: This approach is supported by research, which suggests that promoting a positive body image can help prevent eating disorders and other weight-related problems in young people 2. A positive body image is associated with a lower risk of body dissatisfaction, disordered eating behaviors, and other negative outcomes.
- Having frequent family discussions regarding weight control and healthy eating: While this approach may seem helpful, research suggests that it can actually have negative consequences, such as increasing the risk of disordered eating behaviors and body dissatisfaction in adolescent girls 3.
- Encouraging the parent to speak frequently about her own dieting and weight control habits: This approach is also unlikely to be helpful, as research suggests that parent weight talk and dieting behaviors can contribute to disordered eating behaviors in adolescent girls 3.
- Allowing cell phone use during mealtimes: There is no direct evidence to support this approach, and it may actually be harmful, as exposure to social media and other digital content can negatively impact body image and food choices in young adults 4.
Key Considerations
When developing a strategy to promote a healthy relationship with food, it is essential to consider the potential risks and benefits of different approaches. Research suggests that positive parenting styles and practices, such as responsive feeding and parenting, can help support the development of healthy eating behaviors and weight trajectories in children 5. Additionally, promoting a positive body image and avoiding weight-related comments or dieting behaviors can help reduce the risk of eating disorders and other negative outcomes.