{"id":5681,"date":"2023-07-16T01:42:59","date_gmt":"2023-07-15T18:42:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=5681"},"modified":"2023-07-16T01:42:59","modified_gmt":"2023-07-15T18:42:59","slug":"how-to-talk-to-kids-about-anti-fat-bias","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=5681","title":{"rendered":"How To Talk To Kids About Anti-Fat Bias"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"drop-cap text-big text-gray\"> <span class=\"drop-cap__first text-dropcap \">M<\/span>ost (if not all) adults are acquainted with anti-fat bias, even if they don\u2019t know that\u2019s what it is. In a nutshell, anti-fat bias is \u201cthe attitudes, behaviors, and social systems that specifically marginalize, exclude, underserve, and oppress fat bodies,\u201d as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.self.com\/story\/fat-activist-fatphobia\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.self.com\/story\/fat-activist-fatphobia\">defined by fat activist Aubrey Gordon<\/a>. It\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bmc.org\/glossary-culture-transformation\/fatphobia\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.bmc.org\/glossary-culture-transformation\/fatphobia\">linked to anti-Blackness, racism, classism, misogyny, and other systems of oppression<\/a>. It can look like <a href=\"https:\/\/journals.plos.org\/plosone\/article?id=10.1371\/journal.pone.0245972\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/journals.plos.org\/plosone\/article?id=10.1371\/journal.pone.0245972\">teachers grading fat students more severely<\/a>, fat patients <a href=\"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/full\/10.1111\/obr.12266\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/full\/10.1111\/obr.12266\">getting lesser care at the doctor\u2019s office<\/a>, and more. Further, the <a href=\"https:\/\/publichealth.uic.edu\/community-engagement\/collaboratory-for-health-justice\/addressing-weight-stigma-and-fatphobia-in-public-health\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/publichealth.uic.edu\/community-engagement\/collaboratory-for-health-justice\/addressing-weight-stigma-and-fatphobia-in-public-health\/\">stress from this weight stigma can lead to<\/a> high blood pressure, depression, weight cycling, inflammation, and many other health issues.<\/div>\n<p>While oppressive messages surrounding weight (examples: fat people are lazy, fat people just need to lose weight, etc.) are widespread, they&#8217;re false. Health, weight, behaviors, and personality characteristics are not all one in the same, and weight isn\u2019t the sole indicator of health. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), your social, economic, and physical environment, along with your individual characteristics, behaviors, genetics, and more, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/news-room\/questions-and-answers\/item\/determinants-of-health\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" rel=\"nofollow\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/news-room\/questions-and-answers\/item\/determinants-of-health\">make up the <em>many <\/em>determinants of health<\/a>. Plus, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationaleatingdisorders.org\/help-support\/contact-helpline\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.nationaleatingdisorders.org\/help-support\/contact-helpline\">National Eating Disorders Association<\/a> says <a href=\"https:\/\/uhs.berkeley.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/everybody.pdf\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/uhs.berkeley.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/everybody.pdf\">even if we all ate and exercised the same, our bodies would still look different<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"related-content \" style=\"\" data-module-init=\"related-content\" data-module-immediate=\"\" v-cloak=\"\">\n<div class=\"related-content__wrapper \" v-cloak=\"\" :class=\"{'is-loaded':isLoaded}\">\n<p> <span class=\"inline pr-6 text-seafoam-dark\">Related Stories<\/span> <\/p>\n<p> <related-content class=\"related-content__links\" parent-article-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/anti-fat-bias-kids\/\" current-title=\"Kids Learn Anti-Fat Bias Earlier Than You May Realize\u2014Here\u2019s How to Address It With Them\" current-image=\"GettyImages-1266062954-425x285.jpg\" v-on:parsely-posts-loaded=\"onPostsLoaded\" start-date=\"2023-01-15\" tag=\"div\" inline-template=\"\" url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/anti-fat-bias-kids\/\" secret=\"w5ztterVB03LGZJLfXS0hf3EvQBuFFIWew9hmVQxthU\" apikey=\"wellandgood.com\" limit=\"3\"> <\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"related-content__card mb-[10px] sm:mb-[20px]\" :class=\"{'related-content__card--full':posts.length === 1}\" v-for=\"(post, key) in posts\"> <a v-on:click.prevent=\"trackLinkGA($event, key)\" :href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/anti-fat-bias-kids\/post.url\" data-url-source=\"related-content\" class=\"related-content__link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"\"> <\/p>\n<div class=\"related-content__card--image bg-tan\" :style=\"{ backgroundImage: 'url(' + post.image_url + ')' }\"> <img :src=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/anti-fat-bias-kids\/post.image_url\" :alt=\"post.title\"\/> <\/div>\n<p> <\/a>  <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <\/related-content> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>But from health classes to conversations over lunch with friends, that\u2019s not the message many kids are learning when we <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/how-to-talk-to-kids-about-weight\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/how-to-talk-to-kids-about-weight\/\">talk about weight<\/a> (which we\u2019ll get to more below). <a href=\"https:\/\/virginiasolesmith.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/virginiasolesmith.com\/\">Virginia Sole-Smith<\/a> talks about this in her recently released book <a href=\"https:\/\/clicks.trx-hub.com\/xid\/leafgroup_ca5e0_wellgood?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FFat-Talk-Parenting-Diet-Culture%2Fdp%2F1250831210%2F%3Ftag%3Dwgtrx10811-20%26asc_refurl%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.wellandgood.com%252Fanti-fat-bias-kids%252F%26asc_source%3Ddirect%26asc_campaign%3Dno-campaign&amp;p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wellandgood.com%2Fanti-fat-bias-kids%2F&amp;event_type=click\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Fat-Talk-Parenting-Diet-Culture\/dp\/1250831210\/\"><em>Fat Talk: Parenting in the Age of Diet Culture.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<p>She references lots of research, such as a study in <em>Obesity Research<\/em> that found children liked pictures of the fat child the least, and that the <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/12634444\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/12634444\/\">stigma surrounding living in a fat body is increasing<\/a>. Further, a study in the <em>Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology<\/em> found that when kids between three and five years old\u2014yes, that young\u2014were asked to identify the mean character, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/abs\/pii\/S0193397399800495\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/abs\/pii\/S0193397399800495\">they chose the fat one<\/a> up to 81 percent of the time. Another study included in <em>Body Image<\/em> found <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/27352102\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/27352102\/\">children under the age of six years old experience body dissatisfaction<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>As a result of this and a myriad of other contributors, <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/1624650\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/1624650\/\">46 percent of kids as young as nine to 11 years old are \u201csometimes\u201d or \u201cvery often\u201d on diets<\/a>. Further, <a href=\"https:\/\/jamanetwork.com\/journals\/jamapediatrics\/fullarticle\/2801664\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/jamanetwork.com\/journals\/jamapediatrics\/fullarticle\/2801664\">22 percent of children and adolescents engage in disordered eating<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/nutrition.org\/eating-disorders-are-on-the-rise\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/nutrition.org\/eating-disorders-are-on-the-rise\/\">eating disorders are the second-deadliest mental illness<\/a>. None of this is okay.<\/p>\n<p>We must educate ourselves and our kids about anti-fat bias, how to identify it, the harm it perpetuates, and how to fight against it, both proactively and reactively.<\/p>\n<h2>How and where kids learn anti-fat bias<\/h2>\n<p>In short, anti-fat bias is everywhere, from daily conversations to movies. \u201cWe are often familiar with the overt ways kids learn anti-fat bias, like being told that they need to lose weight [or] having parents or other adults dieting or talking about their own bodies in negative ways,\u201d says <a href=\"https:\/\/livingbalanceavl.com\/about\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/livingbalanceavl.com\/about\/\">Breese Annable<\/a>, PsyD, CEDS-S, a therapist who specializes in eating disorders.<\/p>\n<p>But it\u2019s not always that obvious. \u201cAnti-fat bias is often learned in subtle and insidious ways,\u201d she continues. \u201cFor example, media often portrays people in larger bodies as the evil villain, the funny (but unattractive) friend, or the clumsy, lazy person.\u201d Think Dudley in the <em>Harry Potter<\/em> series and Mr. Waternoose in <em>Monsters Inc.<\/em> Those are only a couple of examples.<\/p>\n<p>While this may seem innocent, as if it wouldn\u2019t <em>really<\/em> impact kids, therapists assure these characterizations do have an effect\u2014especially for kids at that age. \u201cAs kids are exposed to social media at a young and developmentally crucial age where they are figuring out how they and their bodies fit into the world, they are more vulnerable to messages around dieting and weight that are inherently fatphobic,\u201d says <a href=\"https:\/\/www.choosingtherapy.com\/samantha-bickham-lmhc\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.choosingtherapy.com\/samantha-bickham-lmhc\/\">Samantha Bickham<\/a>, LMHC, a therapist with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.choosingtherapy.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.choosingtherapy.com\/\">Choosing Therapy<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Kids can also sense when \u201cfat\u201d is used as an insult by adults and peers alike. \u201cThe message that gets relayed\u2014loud and clear\u2014is that having a larger body is negative, something to be avoided, or to be embarrassed about,\u201d Dr. Annable adds.<\/p>\n<p>At the same time, it\u2019s important to note that people don\u2019t always intend to be mean. \u201cMedia portrayals, comments by family members, and well-meaning teachers or coaches may all inadvertently say or do something that reinforces fatphobia,\u201d says <a href=\"https:\/\/emilyprogram.com\/about-us\/leadership-team\/annatanner\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" rel=\"nofollow\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/emilyprogram.com\/about-us\/leadership-team\/annatanner\/\">Anna Tanner<\/a>, MD, FAAP, FSAHM, CEDS-S, the vice president for the department of child and adolescent medicine for <a href=\"https:\/\/emilyprogram.com\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" rel=\"nofollow\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/emilyprogram.com\/\">The Emily Program<\/a>. For example, parents may tell a child to eat less \u201cor they\u2019ll get fat,\u201d thinking that can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/cyberbullying-vs-bullying\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/cyberbullying-vs-bullying\/\">protect them from being bullied<\/a> or having health issues. (Spoiler alert: It\u2019s not that simple.)<\/p>\n<p>While changing our everyday talk about fatness on an individual level is vital, it\u2019s a systemic issue in which our society needs a complete overhaul, too. For example, Dr. Annable talks about how desks are made in a way that\u2019s not comfortable for people in larger bodies, and health classes emphasize <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/diet-culture-lies\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/diet-culture-lies\/\">inaccurate messages about \u201cgood\u201d foods and \u201cbad\u201d foods<\/a>, which \u201coften goes hand in hand with messages that conflate health and body size,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n<p>In her aforementioned book, Sole-Smith talks about how sports uniforms are also rarely (if ever) made in larger sizes, and social media content portraying thin bodies is pushed more by the algorithm. Kids are learning, in many different ways, that it\u2019s only okay to have a body that\u2019s a certain size (when in reality, body diversity is natural and good).<\/p>\n<h2>Addressing anti-fat bias proactively<\/h2>\n<p>Unfortunately, no matter how much you talk to your child about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/body-liberation\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/body-liberation\/\">focusing on body liberation<\/a> (in a way they\u2019ll understand, of course), they&#8217;re going to come into contact with anti-fat bias. They also probably won\u2019t be able to recognize all the many ways in which it\u2019s discussed and veiled.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI see this already beginning to bloom in my three-year-old boy, who, despite our best efforts and having wonderful advocates within his preschool, has identified a number of specific foods that will help him \u2018stay healthy and build big muscles\u2019 and a long list of foods that make \u2018your insides and outsides sick,\u2019\u201d shares <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/megan-hellner-drph-mph-rd-ceds-s-50619112\/?trk=public_profile_browsemap\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/megan-hellner-drph-mph-rd-ceds-s-50619112\/?trk=public_profile_browsemap\">Megan Holt Hellner<\/a>, RD, head of nutrition and physical activity research at <a href=\"https:\/\/equip.health\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/equip.health\/\">Equip<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>So how can you protect and prepare them as much as possible?<\/p>\n<h3>Show them lots of positive body-diverse content<\/h3>\n<p>Dr. Annable encourages exposing kids to media that counters the idea that certain bodies are superior. One book she loves is <a href=\"https:\/\/clicks.trx-hub.com\/xid\/leafgroup_ca5e0_wellgood?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FBodies-Are-Cool-Tyler-Feder%2Fdp%2F0593112628%3Ftag%3Dwgtrx10811-20%26asc_refurl%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.wellandgood.com%252Fanti-fat-bias-kids%252F%26asc_source%3Ddirect%26asc_campaign%3Dno-campaign&amp;p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wellandgood.com%2Fanti-fat-bias-kids%2F&amp;event_type=click\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Bodies-Are-Cool-Tyler-Feder\/dp\/0593112628\"><em>Bodies Are Cool<\/em> <\/a>by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tylerfeder.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.tylerfeder.com\/\">Tyler Feder<\/a>. \u201cAs parents, we need to proactively seek out books, TV, [and] movies that centralize bodies of all shapes, sizes, colors, physical abilities, etc. to combat the hierarchy that kids are taught,\u201d she emphasizes.<\/p>\n<h3>Address your own deeply rooted biases and how you may act on them<\/h3>\n<p>Even if you believe in body diversity, fat positivity, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/tiktok-health-every-size-influencers-essay\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/tiktok-health-every-size-influencers-essay\/\">Health at Every Size<\/a>, etc., you may still notice old programming pop up\u2014which can sneak into your words and behaviors. So, before (and as) we work with kids on this issue, we have to work on ourselves, too. \u201cExamine your own attitudes and beliefs around weight, and specifically fatness,\u201d Hellner says. \u201cEven if you aren\u2019t ready to make changes, start by getting curious.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, she encourages not making comments on people\u2019s weight, even if you consider it to be positive. After all, congratulating someone on losing weight suggests that being smaller is an accomplishment and a way to get loving praise.<\/p>\n<h3>Model how you want them to behave<\/h3>\n<p>Just like you model how you want your kid to treat people generally, model how you want them to act and speak about the topic of fatness and bodies specifically, too. \u201cMirror the kind of self-talk you would like them to engage in,\u201d Tanner suggests. \u201cDo not promote body dissatisfaction. Model being kind to yourself and proud and grateful for what your body can do\u2014and encourage them to do the same.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Examples of this include not looking at fat parts of your body with disgust, not commenting on a family member\u2019s weight changes, avoiding small talk about how you \u201cneed\u201d to go on a diet to lose weight, and expressing gratitude toward your body.<\/p>\n<h3>Talk to their pediatrician<\/h3>\n<p>Since the doctor\u2019s office is another common place where you may be confronted with anti-fat bias, consider having a conversation with your child\u2019s pediatrician ahead of time, when your child isn\u2019t in the room. \u201cIt is important that parents are clear with their kid\u2019s doctor that body size or weight loss is not to be discussed with the child present,\u201d Dr. Annable says. Instead, she continues, tell the doctor you\u2019re okay with them talking to your child about healthy behaviors, such as moving their body in enjoyable ways and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/gentle-nutrition\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/gentle-nutrition\/\">adding in (not subtracting) foods of all kinds<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>Note: It&#8217;s important talk with and for thin kids, too<\/h2>\n<p>Hellner adds that these conversations are important even if your child is thin. Sole-Smith points this out in her book, as well. First, because their body now is just that\u2014their body now. \u201cAfter all, not every thin kid grows up to be a thin adult,\u201d Sole-Smith writes.<\/p>\n<p>Plus, the glorification of thinness is both fatphobic and harmful in its own way. \u201cWhen I did, say, eat an entire box of fudge in one afternoon, and didn\u2019t immediately gain weight, it reinforced my sense that my thinness was some kind of innate superpower\u2026[that I] was therefore superior to people who couldn\u2019t,\u201d Sole-Smith continues. \u201cThinness gradually became wrapped up in my sense of myself as a talented and successful person.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The (inaccurate) idea that \u201cthin is best\u201d can also hide and exacerbate eating disorders. Harrop, a nonbinary individual Sole-Smith interviewed for her book, struggled \u201cwith how much thinness felt essential to their identity\u201d growing up. Over time, their behaviors became more disordered, turning into a full-blown eating disorder. \u201cThin privilege disguised my eating disorder for a long time,\u201d they said.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s also crucial to note that these are only a few reasons why parents should consider talking to their children about anti-fat bias, regardless of their size. It doesn\u2019t take into account how this knowledge could help your child support their friends, or feel loved for who they are rather than for what they look like, and so on.<\/p>\n<h2>How to respond to anti-fat bias around your child<\/h2>\n<p>Now, let\u2019s say someone said something anti-fat, or commented on another person\u2019s body, or you and your child just watched a fictional portrayal of what you know to be anti-fat bias. This will happen regardless of your actions, and is a great teachable opportunity to take advantage of. (Without these moments, how will kids learn?) In the heat of the moment, what do you do?<\/p>\n<h3>Listen to their concerns and hurt<\/h3>\n<p>So your child has just <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/how-to-deal-with-body-shaming\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/how-to-deal-with-body-shaming\/\">experienced body shaming firsthand<\/a>. They may seem hurt and\/or unsure about how to feel, and they may not know how to express their feelings well. \u201cI would encourage parents to always stop and listen when our children approach us with a concern, especially something that may prompt them to feel vulnerable or confused,\u201d Tanner says. Not only can you help them feel better and adjust their attitudes accordingly, but she reminds us to treasure that meaningful time with them.<\/p>\n<h3>Normalize body diversity<\/h3>\n<p>Let\u2019s say the fat comment wasn\u2019t necessarily said in a mean way, but stated more factually. Keep on that same thread! \u201cWhen kids, especially little ones, point out a person\u2019s body, I always say, \u2018Yep! People come in all different shapes, sizes, and colors, huh?\u2019\u201d says <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rockrecoveryed.org\/meet-our-team#:~:text=Heather%20Clark%20%2D%20MA%2C%20LCPC&amp;text=Heather%20is%20a%20licensed%20counselor,%2C%20intuitive%20eating%2C%20and%20orthorexia.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.rockrecoveryed.org\/meet-our-team#:~:text=Heather%20Clark%20%2D%20MA%2C%20LCPC&amp;text=Heather%20is%20a%20licensed%20counselor,%2C%20intuitive%20eating%2C%20and%20orthorexia.\">Heather Clark<\/a>, MA, LCPC, clinical director at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rockrecoveryed.org\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.rockrecoveryed.org\/\">Rock Recovery<\/a>. \u201cMy hope is that this repeated phrase will be internalized and become part of the voice in their own heads.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3>Talk about the implications of anti-fat bias (in a kid-friendly way)<\/h3>\n<p>Another possible situation: You just watched <em>The Little Mermaid<\/em> together. While it\u2019s a staple, the portrayal of the villain, Ursula, as a fat character (and the protagonist, Ariel, as a thin character) is a problem.<\/p>\n<p>After enjoying the movie together, consider starting an age-appropriate conversation. Clark has done this with her own children after watching media promoting anti-fat bias. \u201cI asked them things like, \u2018What do you think the people who made this movie\/story think about fat people?\u2019 I shared my own reflections, and fostered discussion around whether or not we agreed with those ideas,\u201d she says. \u201cSpoiler alert: We did NOT.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3>Share your perspectives and break stigma<\/h3>\n<p>When anti-fat bias is expressed elsewhere, like at school or a friend\u2019s house, Clark responds with this: \u201c\u2018A lot of people think that way. But what I know is\u2026\u2019 and then I share what I know to be true about weight and health.\u201d (AKA, the information listed above about the determinants of health and how amounts of food and exercise aren\u2019t the only factors in weight, to start.)<\/p>\n<p>This work isn\u2019t easy or a one-and-done effort, but it\u2019s necessary for everyone\u2019s well-being. \u201cIt\u2019s never too late to challenge and address <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/signs-doctor-weight-bias\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/signs-doctor-weight-bias\/\">weight bias<\/a>,\u201d Hellner says, \u201cand we owe it to all children (regardless of their size) to do so.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"disclaimers__after_content mb-[18px] mt-[16px] pt-[16px]\">\n<div class=\"outline-earmark relative mt-[8px] pt-[10px] pl-[20px]\">\n<p>\n            Our editors independently select these products. Making a purchase through our links may earn Well+Good a commission.          <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1675549\">\r\n<\/div>\r\n<script>(function(w,q){w[q]=w[q]||[];w[q].push([\"_mgc.load\"])})(window,\"_mgq\");\r\n<\/script>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Most (if not all) adults are acquainted with anti-fat bias, even if they don\u2019t know that\u2019s what it is. In a nutshell, anti-fat bias is \u201cthe attitudes, behaviors, and social systems that specifically marginalize, exclude, underserve, and oppress fat bodies,\u201d as defined by fat activist Aubrey Gordon. It\u2019s linked to anti-Blackness, racism, classism, misogyny, and &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":5682,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5681","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5681","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5681"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5681\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5682"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5681"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5681"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5681"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}