Every Body’s Different; A Conference
on New Approaches to Health for Children and Adolescents of All Sizes
J. Hill, MS, RD; E. D’Urso Fischer, MS. RD; L. McDonald, LD,
D. Weingstein, MNS, RD; J. Kaiser-Froehlke, MNS, RD; V. Burr, MS, RD;
The University of Chicago,
IL.
BACKGROUND
According to one survey done in Chicago, almost
50% of children from Communities of Color
are considered overweight and/or at risk for obesity. At the same time,
few treatment and
medical interventions that target weight loss as an outcome have had
successful long term
results. Many practitioners have abandoned treatment and turned their
efforts only towards
prevention, surrendering thousands of children to a lifetime risk
of nutrition-related diseases.
METHOD
A conference was convened in Chicago to take up the
new paradigm of health at every size.
This approach is characterized by intuitive eating, helping people identify
and honor cues of
hunger and fullness. An appreciation and understanding of one's natural
body shape, the
enjoyment of food and movement rather than restrictive eating and punitive
exercise are
emphasized. In addition to identifying major components of the approach,
presenters identified
research studies that support this and other non-dieting interventions.
Personal and social
attitudes were identified that contribute to fat-phobia and negative
body image.
Participants experienced a variety of exercises and activities
that demonstrated how to introduce
normalized eating, enjoyment of movement and size acceptance to children
and families. There
was an emphasis on helping clients recognize cultural influences on body size,
food and activity
to address inappropriate dieting, body shape preoccupation and eating disorders,
particularly in
teens.
RESULTS
An evaluation form reported an 80% satisfaction
rate from participants, with many positive
comments particularly to presenters of hands-on information telling people
how to apply this
approach themselves.
DISCUSSION
The goal of this conference was to provide the rationale
for a new paradigm, "Health at Every Size"
and to give clinicians practical and effective ways to work with children on
issues concerning
weight and disordered eating. Some of the original initiators of this approach
presented their
own personal stories as children and women of size. They engaged the audience
in participatory
activities which could be utilized with clients.
CONCLUSION
Practitioners are aware of the failure of diet programs
to help children and families achieve
weight loss. A new paradigm “Health at Every Size” emphasizes enjoyment
of food and
movement, and the development of clients’ sensitivity to the body’s
natural signals regarding
hunger and fullness. These concepts, along with applicable information were
provided to
conference participants. Evaluations, including written narrative, described
the uplifting
motivation expressed by participants to integrate this approach into their
practice.
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