While as loving mums we’d never intentionally hurtfully comment on our children’s weight, we can sometimes find ourselves saying innocent things, like “Oh that’s very fattening – don’t eat that” etc. etc.
However, according to a new study, mentioning our daughter’s weight in any way can have a detrimental impact that may follow them into adulthood.
According to the findings carried out by Cornell Food and Brand Lab and published in Eating & Weight Disorders, women who remember comments about their weight as kids are less satisfied with their weight as adults, and actually are more prone to being overweight.
501 women aged 20-35 years were asked to recall the amount of instances their weight was commented on growing up, with the findings showing that those with a healthy BMI were 27% less likely to recall comments about their weight, and 28% less likely to recall parents commenting they ate too much.
And both overweight AND healthy weight women who recalled negative comments were dissatisfied with their weight as adults – showing the far-reaching impact these comments can have into adulthood.
Based on the findings, researchers concluded that comments relating to weight during these formative years had a negative impact on women as adults, regardless of what weight they actually were.
As mums, we’re aware of the pressure regarding body image, so we try our best never to comment on our children’s weight, or our own for that matter. However, we want them to be healthy – without giving them complexes.
Parenting eh? Well we suppose no one ever said it would be easy!
“If you’re worried about your child’s weight, avoid criticising them or restricting food,” recommends Brian Wansink. “Instead, nudge healthy choices and behaviors by giving them freedom to choose for themselves and by making the healthier choices more appealing and convenient all, it’s the choices that children make for themselves that will lead to lifelong habits.”
