You Are More Than Your Body
When I heard about WW (formerly Weight Watchers) new app for Kids age 8 and up called Kurbo, my immediate reaction was one of disgust and disappointment. Through this app kids learn to categorize their food choices like a traffic light: green foods (good), yellow foods (watch out), and red foods (bad - including nourishing fats like nuts and avocados! 🤬). There is so much research clearly indicating that diets do not work and in fact often lead to eating disorders and psychological problems. My heart goes out to everyone who knows too well what it’s like to experience fat shaming, food confusion, and self-hatred during a time when life is supposed to be carefree and fun.
It is unfortunate that as a society we place so much value on our appearance. Many of us have grown up believing that it is the only part of our identity that really matters - e.g. “I will never be a good enough (at my job, as a parent, in my relationship, etc.) until I lose weight.” This is such an ingrained, emotional experience that we often don’t notice how it’s damaging us. We also don’t realize the extent to which we impose that onto children.
We need to give new generations a chance to feel worthy and accepting of themselves, regardless of how they look. This is NOT going to happen by teaching them good vs. bad foods in an app - really just a recipe for developing emotional insecurities. What we need to do instead is educate parents how to talk to their children and how to model healthy behaviors at home.
Want to truly set your kids up for success? Treat yourself better. Teach your kids that you value your own body and you don’t dictate worthiness on the size of your body or what you choose to eat on a given day. Show them that it’s okay to love themselves as-they-are by doing the same for yourself. If this concept seems foreign or impossible (it’s okay, our culture has made it that way), it might be helpful to find a therapist specializing in body image, Health At Every Size (HAES), and/or intuitive eating. It is possible to overcome the nasty mixed messages we have received over generations. Seek help for yourself so you can help kids thrive for generations to come ❤️