Sometimes, with a heavy teenager at home, and a lot of focus on losing weight, the process can trigger an eating disorder. This is typically more of a concern for parents of girls because the rate of eating disorders among girls is much higher than it is for boys. Teaching your child to make healthier eating choices and to exercise does not cause them to develop an eating disorder. But other factors in your environment and life can put them at risk for developing it. The manner in which you speak to them about their weight can impact on how they feel about their body. Pick words that are supportive rather than critical. Ensure that other members of your family, especially siblings without a weight issue, don’t undermine your child’s efforts to make healthy lifestyle changes. The child struggling with weight cannot become a butt of jokes when they attempt to exercise that may look clumsy initially. Protect them against cruel, insensitive remarks from other adults in the family. If your child spends a lot of time on the computer, reduce the screen time. If you have more children, the rule applies to all irrespective of their weight. Make goals of one or two physical activities after already working on a healthy lifestyle for a few weeks. It is really important for them to reach at least the 30-minute goal of physical activity daily. If your child is defiant or helpless and continues to struggle with their relationship with food, it’s best to seek the help of an expert.
