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Worried about changes in your teen’s weight but not sure how to tackle this tricky subject? Download a helpful and sensitive conversation guide, informed by obesity specialists and parents alike, to get you started.
As parents, or caregivers, we all want the best for the young people we look after. We want them to be happy, healthy and confident – especially as they navigate the teenage years, when changing hormones can offer many challenges!
But what should we do if our teen is living with obesity? Many parents and caregivers are hesitant about raising the subject of weight. It’s a sensitive topic and it’s only natural to want to avoid conflict. However, there comes a time when you might need to act. Perhaps you have discovered that your teen is being bullied. Maybe you can see they are struggling with low self-esteem or depression. Or you may worry about their long-term health – 4 out of 5 teenagers living with obesity will become an adult living with obesity. If this sounds familiar to you, let’s look at some of the questions parents and caregivers often ask themselves.
Many parents take on all the blame for their child living with obesity and feel they could have done more for them. The truth is that obesity is a complex disease with many contributing factors. These include genetic, psychological, environmental and physiological factors (how a person’s body functions). Caregivers cannot be responsible for everything a young person does or shield them from all external factors. What they can do is support them to make positive choices and encourage them to seek medical support when needed.
In a recent study, 65% of teens with obesity felt that weight loss was their responsibility
It is good to allow teens to develop a sense of responsibility for
their actions, but most young people need guidance and encouragement
along the way. If they are struggling with their weight, they may
welcome the chance to share their feelings with a family member or
friend and together discuss the best approach to take.
Many parents or caregivers worry that talking about weight will somehow make things worse – by adding to low self-esteem or triggering an unhealthy relationship with their bodies and food. In most cases, it is better to bring things out into the open and tackle them head on. It can be very beneficial to encourage open conversations in the household, as this can make the home a ‘safe’ place for your child to discuss weight openly.
Healthcare professionals, including GPs, pharmacists and nurses, can often provide valuable support as a next step also.
Feel more ready to have the conversation? Download the guide above to help you prepare
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23. PMID: 26696565.
2. Stop Obesity Alliance. Weigh in: Talking to your children about weight + health. Available at: https://www.apa.org/obesity-guideline/discussing-weight Last accessed: February 2023
3. World Obesity. World Obesity Atlas 2022. Available at: https://www.worldobesity.org/resources/resource-library/world-obesity-atlas-2022. Last accessed: February 2023
4. Halford J, Bereket A, Bin-Abbas B, et al. (2022) Misalignment among adolescents living with obesity, caregivers, and healthcare professionals: ACTION Teens global survey study. Pediatric Obesity; e12957. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijpo.12957
5. Eatright.org. (2023) How to Talk to Kids about Weight. Available at: https://www.eatright.org/health/wellness/weight-and-body-positivity/how-to-talk-to-kids-about-weight Last accessed: February 2023
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Talk to your weight management provider about treatment options
that could prevent the weight you lose from coming back.
