Childhood Obesity Linked To Societal Judgement

As if children suffering from childhood obesity didn’t have enough to contend with, a new study reveals that the negative reactions these children receive from their peers, adults and society at large can actually reinforce the problem.  According to experts at the American College of Sports Medicine, while many of the negative attitudes these children face are unintended, they are still felt and experienced by the children involved and can have very damaging effects on their futures.

Negative attitudes about childhood obesity are rampant in society.  Because childhood obesity has now become an epidemic in many developed worlds, the fear, anxiety and acknowledged costs to the medical care system have been increasingly expounded by physicians and health care researchers. 

In an attempt to spread awareness and to stop the continued epidemic from destroying lives, increasing attention has been paid to this problem in the media.  Yet, many children perceive the judgements society exerts upon them and these judgments further affect the child’ relationships.  A child’s relationship with him/herself, his/her peers, as well as their relationship with physical activity and food can all be negatively affected.

According to researchers, assumptions about a child’s inability to participate in sports for instance, can affect the child’s own perception of physical activity.  This in and of itself can prevent them from wanting to engage in gym class and like further compounding the original weight problem.  The children can then apparently experience something of a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Attitudes towards obesity and the kinds of judgements that it produces can negatively affect a child’s relationship with food as well.  When obese children are perceived as simply being lazy, stupid, or uncoordinated, the child can become even more down and turn towards food as a comfort.  Positive support instead and medical help can help the child work towards more healthy habits.

If you have or know a child suffering from this problem, do try to avoid negative stereotyping, judgement or offering lectures.  Setting a good example yourself with healthy eating, exercise, and a positive attitude will do much more good than making the child feel more alone, at fault or isolated.

As with adults, obesity is a major problem among children and needs to be addressed.  However, as this study shows a little compassion can do a lot more good than a loaded look or less than supportive comment.