How Can I Get My Daughter to Understand the Damaging Effects of Dieting? (Photos)

I am fortunate and honored to be a featured expert on Dr. Oz's Website - Sharecare.com. This is an answer to one of the posted questions from a member. I thought it could be helpful for many of the parents in our community.

How can I get my daughter to understand the damaging effects of dieting?

Becoming a mentor, coach AND participant in your daughters new healthy habits is the best way to change course for good. Modeling the behaviors that you wish for her to possess is the best experience you can give her.

Often, I experience Parents come to me, frustrated, desiring for their daughter to lose weight or they will come to me because their daughter wishes to lose weight. The Parent has the best intentions but many times disassociates their own behaviors from the behaviors that the child has assumed. They seem baffled when I challenge them to evaluate their habits and become the change that they wish for their daughter. I can tell you firsthand, that if you do engage in the behavior modeling that I suggest, you are more likely to succeed in altering your daughters perception of health and healthy eating. If you are continually "dieting" by following a strict eating code, are frustrated and desperate and focused on scale weight and your appearance, the chances are good that your daughter will follow suit.

Conversely, if you focus on healthy eating behaviors, rational and level emotions as they relate to your fitness and living an active lifestyle then your daughter will have a fantastic mentor.

I do think it is important to note that not all "dieting" is bad or harmful. This truly depends on the methods utilized, the length of time the "diet" lasts and the focus of said "diet". It may be truly beneficial to have a discussion with your daughter about the benefits of Eating Healthy, (keeping the focus off of "Dieting") such as:

• improved energy
• increased vitality
• feeling proud of yourself
• doing good things for your body
• enhancing athletic performance
• increasing cognitive skills

Many people use the term "dieting" generically. If your daughter is following a sensible eating plan that incorporates whole grains, fruits and vegetables with plenty of variety and minimal restrictions then I would say to congratulate her. If, on the other hand, she is focused on dieting as a means for weight loss it would be important to steer her in the direction of the benefits to changing habits for the long-term. Depending on your daughter's age; she may understand the consequences of her actions, but battling marketing and hype that surrounds so many restrictive diets can be difficult. I believe that by being supportive and by getting involved in a healthier eating plan together you could lead by example. A fat reducing overview can help you construct a clear outline of what you need to focus on to carry out your fat loss objective if you're a starter; or serve as a reminder for the ones who are at an intermediate or more improve step of their weightloss plan. Following are seven steps that can serve as tips for your special weight loss program. The first thing that one must understand is that losing weight and losing fat is not exactly the same thing. Many weight loss courses have misled people into considering that it is the same, but most diets and weight loss plans only work by producing a person's body to burn more muscle flesh and water than actual body fat, more help please visit The Fat Loss Factor.

Here a a few more tips for a successful outcome:

• schedule family dinner time 2-3 times per week
• cook healthy, great tasting meals together
• speak about a few of the unhealthy habits you are focused on changing, why you are changing them and the steps you are taking to change them
• have plenty of healthy foods and fruits and vegetables available for the entire family
• purchase less "junk food"
• create healthier dessert recipes together
• consistently speak about "process" (ie: savings accounts accumulate, confidence grows slowly etc...) and how there is not a "switch" for change. Mindset can alter immediately, but actions take their time to catch up.

Speaking to your daughter about the long-term effects of these beneficial habits and how they are better strategies than a restrictive diet plan will go far in aiding her in making better choices for the rest of her life. Being involved as a coach, a mentor AND a participant can and will be the greatest aid in altering her course for good.

In summary - the discussion is much more of a process than a single talk. Be patient and understand the social pressures that are placed on many of our young girls, be mindful of the social hazing and verbal bullying that many take part in and be prepared for setbacks and repetition in your progress. You can make a HUGE impact in your daughters life by becoming her role model.

Learn to create better habits here!

To your health,
Robert DeVito

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