Don’t Worry About Your Child’s Pandemic Weight Gain
Since the outbreak of the pandemic, parents around the world have worried about how to keep our children of all ages physically active when they stay at home. As did their team sports, gym class, grooves, playdates, and walks to school and were all snapped up. We may have tried to get them out of the house for casual walks or bike rides, but it was difficult to consistently match their pre-COVID actions when the weather – or their moods – didn’t always match.
Childhood obesity was already a problem in the United States of America long before the pandemic hit. It is therefore only logical that parents may have worried over the past year about how their child’s lower activity levels, as well as healthy eating habits that may have been affected by stress or lack of time at home, could affect them. physical health.
But, as Virginia Saul-Smith writes for the New York Times , we have little evidence yet; Any weight gain our children have experienced should be treated with curiosity , not anxiety :
“One problem even with collecting this data is that many medical visits are now virtual, so weights are not accepted,” said Dr. Richard E. Besser, President and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which issues an annual report. “The state of childhood obesity.” “But there are many concerns about weight gain in children during a pandemic. And it makes a lot of sense that this should happen. “
The lack of common data hasn’t stopped many parents from worrying or wondering if they should intervene if their child gains weight during a pandemic. But if you think your child’s body is larger than it might be right now, it’s important to view this change as something of curiosity and not as a problem to be solved, as the doctors and nutritionists I spoke to said.
Maintain perspective
If you have noticed significant changes in your child’s body over the past year, remember that this may not be due to the pandemic at all. The child’s body, especially during puberty, undergoes major changes. In addition, not all children develop at the same rate or time frame as their peers, as the Nemours Foundation notes:
These changes have been going on for several years. The average child can grow 10 inches (25 centimeters) during puberty before reaching full adult height.
Since some children begin to develop as early as age 8 and some as early as 14, it may be normal for two children of the same sex and age to have very different weights.
Regardless of whether a more sedentary lifestyle is a pandemic when playing with weight gain or a child’s body changes, how we respond to these changes is now critical. You should always avoid shaming them, voicing concerns about their weight, or trying to control what they eat – by insisting that they clean the plate or cutting them off – should always be avoided as they tend to backfire and force children to maintain long-term unhealthy relationships. with food or body image.
Focus on health – for the whole family
If your child’s healthy habits have been affected in the past year, chances are the same is true for other family members or their peers. Most of us could eat less processed foods, include more fruits and vegetables in our diet, and move our bodies more often. Make these goals family- friendly because they are the key to emotional, physical, and mental health for all of us.
Pick a few outdoor activities that you enjoy doing together, or create family dance routines for TikTok. Go grocery shopping and invite them to cook dinner with you. Take a moment to check how they are doing and if they need support with school difficulties or relationships.
Talk to your pediatrician
If you are still concerned about your child’s health and need more advice on following a healthier diet or increasing physical activity, talk to your doctor about it. Just be careful how you frame these conversations, especially if your child is with you during the discussion. Talk about healthy choices, the importance of movement for physical and mental health, and a strong body, not the need for them (or anyone else) to “go on a diet” or lose weight.
And finally, if your concerns about weight are coming directly from them and not from you, here are some tips on how to talk to them about it – or seek help if needed.