Talking to children about body weight

Many parents worry about talking to their children about weight or nutrition as they are afraid their child might develop an unhealthy relationship with food.  Others feel very embarrassed and guilty that their child is overweight or that they themselves as a parent are overweight.

Unfortunately, this means that many children who need to lose weight don’t get the help and support that they need.  As a parent, acknowledging that there is an issue is a very important first step. One of the best ways to help your child to be a healthy weight is to help your child or teen to be happy with their bodies. With the proper guidance and support there are a number of simple and practical ways of tackling these issues and moving forward.

We have developed factsheets on ‘Talking to children about their bodyweight’ and ‘How to promote a positive body image to children’. 

For information on websites, leaflets, healthy eating guidelines and books with reliable nutrition and physical activity information for children and their families, and anyone interested in childhood nutrition see our factsheet on ‘Useful Resources on Childhood Nutrition: Some Ideas for Parents and Teachers’

If you want to access dietetic services for your child see our factsheet: How to access dietetic services for children: A guide for parents and guardians.