What strategy can help a 12-year-old develop a healthy relationship with food and reduce the risk of eating disorders and future overweight or obesity?

Strategies to Help a 12-Year-Old Develop a Healthy Relationship with Food

Encouraging a positive body image regardless of weight is the most effective strategy to help a 12-year-old develop a healthy relationship with food and reduce the risk of both eating disorders and future overweight or obesity. 1, 2

Evidence Supporting Positive Body Image Promotion

• Positive body image is a key factor in preventing the entire spectrum of weight and eating issues in young people, including eating disorders and obesity 1
• Promoting positive body image has been shown to be more effective than weight-focused discussions in preventing disordered eating behaviors 3, 2
• Children with parents who focus on body acceptance rather than weight are less likely to engage in unhealthy weight control behaviors 3
• Interventions promoting positive body image have demonstrated significant improvements in children's body satisfaction and eating patterns 4, 5

Why Other Approaches Are Problematic

Frequent family discussions about weight control:

• Parental weight talk, even when well-intended, is linked to higher rates of overweight and eating disorders in adolescents 3
• Studies show that when parents have conversations focused on weight, adolescents are more likely to engage in dieting, unhealthy weight-control behaviors, and binge eating 3
• Project EAT research linked weight talk to higher rates of overweight in adolescents 5 years later 3

Parental discussions about dieting:

• Dieting is a significant risk factor for both obesity and eating disorders 3
• Adolescents who diet are 18 times more likely to develop an eating disorder than non-dieters 3
• Parental modeling of dieting behaviors increases children's risk of developing disordered eating patterns 3, 6
• Children of parents who discuss their own dieting are more likely to adopt unhealthy weight control behaviors 3

Cell phone use during mealtimes:

• Family meals have been associated with improved dietary intake and provide opportunities for modeling healthy eating behaviors 3
• Eating family meals together has been shown to protect against purging behaviors, binge eating, and frequent dieting 3
• Distractions during meals (like cell phone use) can interfere with mindful eating and recognition of hunger/fullness cues 3
• Family meals perceived as enjoyable are protective against extreme weight-control behaviors, particularly in girls 3

Practical Recommendations for Parents

• Focus conversations on healthful eating behaviors rather than weight, as this approach is associated with fewer unhealthy weight-control behaviors 3
• Create a positive mealtime environment by having regular family meals without electronic distractions 3
• Avoid weight teasing, as family weight teasing predicts the development of overweight status, binge eating, and extreme weight-control behaviors 3
• Model healthy, balanced eating patterns rather than restrictive dieting behaviors 3
• Encourage physical activity for enjoyment and health benefits rather than for weight control 2
• Help children develop critical thinking skills about media messages regarding body image 1, 5

Special Considerations for Parents with History of Eating Disorders

• Parents with a history of eating disorders should be particularly mindful about avoiding weight talk and dieting discussions 3
• Focus on creating a home environment that supports healthy eating patterns without emphasizing weight 3
• Emphasize body functionality and appreciation rather than appearance 1, 2
• Consider early intervention programs like Confident Body, Confident Child that are designed to promote healthy body image in young children 4

By encouraging a positive body image regardless of weight, parents can help their children develop a healthier relationship with food and their bodies, reducing the risk of both eating disorders and obesity in the future.