Have you noticed in young girls.......diet?!


Question: My daughter is seven yrs. old and is very concerned about her weight. First of all, she's normal and not over weight at all. She's stopped eating anything that she thinks is junk food and wants to know if certain foods will make her fat. She's also exercising. My friend has a daughter the same age and she is going through the same thing. Is it something shown on TV, school, or what? I am thin and my husband is a little over weight. We don't diet at all and never say anything to her about it. We talk positively to her and never say anything negative. It seems as though she and her friend want to look like me. I've told them that not everyone is made the same and as you get older, your body changes. Where is this stuff comming from? I hear it from other parents too. They are too young to be worried about weight issues. I just wish that I could get her mind off of this. Any thoughts?


Answers: My daughter is seven yrs. old and is very concerned about her weight. First of all, she's normal and not over weight at all. She's stopped eating anything that she thinks is junk food and wants to know if certain foods will make her fat. She's also exercising. My friend has a daughter the same age and she is going through the same thing. Is it something shown on TV, school, or what? I am thin and my husband is a little over weight. We don't diet at all and never say anything to her about it. We talk positively to her and never say anything negative. It seems as though she and her friend want to look like me. I've told them that not everyone is made the same and as you get older, your body changes. Where is this stuff comming from? I hear it from other parents too. They are too young to be worried about weight issues. I just wish that I could get her mind off of this. Any thoughts?

I think this is really common in young girls these days. My 12 year old step-daughter is the same way. I think it just has to do with our lives being surrounded by TV. You rarely see an overweight person on TV. Skinny is considered beautiful. I just try to keep my daughters self-esteem up as much as possible. It sounds like you are doing the right thing!
I remember kids being cruel when we were in school. But I think todays school aged students are much worse! Keep up the good work. But to answer your question somewhat.... this is very normal, just continue to keep an eye on it.

its normal. all girls are like this now a days. if shes bad now, wait till shes a teen. you have to stop her now.

=]

I started dieting when I was about her age.. its normal

Unfortunately, this kind of attitude and behaviour is now the new normal.
May I suggest slightly shifting her focus? It is unlikely that with all of the pressure around her you can make her forget about the issues here. But if you can redirect her interest into being healthy that would be better than focusing on being thin.
See if you can find some inspiring athletic ladies around that are fit and have healthy attitudes about their bodies to be role models. Maybe even you? Would you be interested in creating some health based goals you could obtain together? For example, the two of you could train to run a charity marathon together. Visit a nutritionist to help you both figure out healthy meal plans, etc.
There is pressure on girls and women from everywhere. Try not to worry too much, but keep an eye on her. Eating and exercising disorders are so common these days, and an unhealthy focus on being thin isnt a good starting point.
Best of luck.

7? Wow. All I can say is that you should encourage this type of lifestyle for her (unless of course, it gets out of hand and she starts to starve herself or something). She probably has a friend who's mom is a real health nut and her friend rubbed it off on her. In my family we don't eat any "partially (or fully) hydrogenated" oils, and next thing we know my little sister has her friend reading labels. Kids are like that. But if she's conscious of what she puts into her body now her body is more likely to take care of her later on. I think its awesome!

one word....media
How many people are overweight in girls aloud, high school musical (okay one but she isnt a main character), childrens tv presenting? There are hardly any or none at all. Nearly every magazine you pick up nowadays is all about how to lose weight or the size 0 craze that is sweeping the nation. There is probably some influence in peer pressure too. Its very good that you don't say anything negative because I watched a programme on children dieting a while ago and there was a 4 year old asking if her bum looked big, just like her mum did. Its awfully sad but it doesnt look like its getting better... the media want their celebs thinner, taller, prettier, more outrageous and more fashionable.





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