According to an Australian study, children gain weight when their parents point out to them that they are overweight.
For the study, 3,500 children aged 4 and 5 years were followed until the age of 13. Those who were pointed out to be overweight gained more weight in these years. It didn't matter whether the children were actually overweight or not.
How is that possible?
That remains a gamble:it could be that children who are seen as fat lose the motivation to maintain or achieve a healthy weight.
How should it be done?
That's hard to say, because that's what all parents decide for themselves. Instead of stating the overweight, you could encourage your child to eat healthier. A few tips:
