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Healthy bodies, healthy children

Help your kids love and feel comfortable with their bodies!

Educational and remedial therapist, Gcina Sithole, says children understand the meaning of words such as ugly, desirable and likeable from an early age. "If a child is constantly being teased about his or her body weight, they are most likely to develop a poor body image, low self-esteem and other psychological problems," he says.

Sithole gives tips and advice on how to talk to your children so they love and embrace their bodies:

Parents should talk to their children about how they feel about their bodies. During the talk mention, for example, that we are all individuals and we are born with different weights. Each one of us has an ideal weight according to the size of our bones and height.

If possible both the parent and child should get professional help, for example a dietician, who will work out the child's ideal body weight. If indeed the child is overweight or underweight, it should be corrected nutritionally and through body activity.

Always assure and comfort the child that he or she will attain their ideal body weight because both of you are working on it.

There won't be problems if mothers foster correct and healthy eating habits in their families. Children learn from their parents. If a parent is concerned with her own body, and the child hears or perceives that, the child too may develop a complex regarding his or her body.

If, as a parent, you are overweight be open about your concern. Express that you would like to lose weight. for example, "I weigh 80kg and my ideal weight is 70kg. I am going to exercise and I will also eat less." Communicate openly about your body, the need for healthy nutrition (balanced diet), the dangers of overeating, as well as the importance of physical activity.

Being open will help your children to communicate accurately about their body and weight issues. We may even teach them to be realistic in their expectations, which might also make them accept who they are.

Previously published in True Love, Subscribe now and save