your kids that fat is just another descriptor;
I have brown hair, you’re short, I’m
fat. It’s just a body size, and not a moral
indicator of a good or bad human. The
more we can teach kids that, the more we
can fight back against diet culture.”
When well-meaning friends or relatives
comment on a child’s size or food
choices, a simple “Please don’t comment
on our food or our bodies” is in
order, says Severson. “As parents, we’re
the protectors of our children’s bodies.”
Families can prioritize health and
do it in a way that doesn’t promote restrictive
eating, says Bruinsma. A few
years ago, her doctor advised weight
loss after she survived stage-3 colon
cancer. She resolved to find a way to
heal her post-cancer, post-chemotherapy
body without succumbing to diet culture
or exposing her kids to restrictive eating.
“I was really hyper-aware about
talking about weight loss in front of my
kids,” she says. “They would ask why
I was working out and I’d say ‘mama
wants to be strong and play with you.’
If they saw me weighing myself, I’d say,
‘I’m checking how strong I am!’”
Even if we don’t think they’re
watching, kids pick up on our deeply
held beliefs about fat and thin, good and
bad, and who is worthy of love, says Bruinsma.
And before parents can keep diet
culture from consuming their kids, they
might need to heal themselves. “When
I started my body acceptance journey, I
literally stood naked in front of a mirror,
at 200 pounds, and named each body part
and why I loved it. I love my legs because
they carry me where I want to go. I
love my stomach because it carried three
babies. No matter what my body looks
like I’m worthy, and I’m enough.”
For my part, I’ve found stronger
footing since my daughter’s innocent introduction
to dieting in her kindergarten
classroom. Though I know I can’t completely
shield her or her siblings from diet
culture, now I know I’m strong enough to
fight back. And David’s mom, if you’re
out there — you’re strong enough, too.
Malia Jacobson is a nationally published,
award-winning journalist specializing in
health and family topics. Her work is
frequently featured on television and in
publications and news outlets including
Women’s Health magazine, Pregnancy &
Newborn, YAHOO Shine, MSN Health,
the TODAY Show, and TODAY Moms.
July 2020 WNY Family 25