Ragen, thank you for all your work on this topic. Today I am having a hard time following a typically triggering visit with my own PCP- I know certain comments are innocuous to some and I don’t know how to fully protect myself in any healthcare setting. My dr did not mention my weight and I personally volunteered information about the workouts I enjoy and ways I find time for myself with two young kids in elementary school and working from home.
I had a similar experience at my 7 yo’s well check and while no one has specifically said the words- be more active to lose weight, it is always included as nutritional counseling on BMI, obesity noted in our summaries. I am incredibly invested in protecting my kids from the weight cycling and diet culture that defined my adolescence but the CDC’s promotion of these programs and pathologizing healthy kids in larger bodies just contributes to my outrage. Based on own life, my twin’s ED at 10 yo led to about 10 pounds of difference between us at approximately 12 yo. I have always been in a larger body than her. the data that focus only on these very small incremental changes and ignoring the lifelong mental health issues that come from focusing on weight loss at a young age is incredibly infuriating. My number one comment is go away!! Leave the kids alone and let them enjoy their lives!
I hate that you have to put up with visits like that. Those "innocuous" comments are the hardest to push back on for me when you can see how the person saying them really thinks they'll be relating to you in a positive way, all while reinforcing ideas that can be very harmful.
So glad that you're working to protect your kiddos from that kind of hostility and not compromising on their actual health for the sake of some shoddy metrics. I know that work will pay off tenfold in the long run 💞
I know I can’t protect my kids from everything but I so vehemently want to protect them from the disordered relationship with food and negative thought patterns I have experienced for almost 30 years.
Ragen, thank you for all your work on this topic. Today I am having a hard time following a typically triggering visit with my own PCP- I know certain comments are innocuous to some and I don’t know how to fully protect myself in any healthcare setting. My dr did not mention my weight and I personally volunteered information about the workouts I enjoy and ways I find time for myself with two young kids in elementary school and working from home.
I had a similar experience at my 7 yo’s well check and while no one has specifically said the words- be more active to lose weight, it is always included as nutritional counseling on BMI, obesity noted in our summaries. I am incredibly invested in protecting my kids from the weight cycling and diet culture that defined my adolescence but the CDC’s promotion of these programs and pathologizing healthy kids in larger bodies just contributes to my outrage. Based on own life, my twin’s ED at 10 yo led to about 10 pounds of difference between us at approximately 12 yo. I have always been in a larger body than her. the data that focus only on these very small incremental changes and ignoring the lifelong mental health issues that come from focusing on weight loss at a young age is incredibly infuriating. My number one comment is go away!! Leave the kids alone and let them enjoy their lives!
I hate that you have to put up with visits like that. Those "innocuous" comments are the hardest to push back on for me when you can see how the person saying them really thinks they'll be relating to you in a positive way, all while reinforcing ideas that can be very harmful.
So glad that you're working to protect your kiddos from that kind of hostility and not compromising on their actual health for the sake of some shoddy metrics. I know that work will pay off tenfold in the long run 💞
I know I can’t protect my kids from everything but I so vehemently want to protect them from the disordered relationship with food and negative thought patterns I have experienced for almost 30 years.
Once again, Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Same ol' BS over and over again from the weight industry.