Approaching Health Conversations with Kids: Expert Tips from Pediatrician Dr. Jane Roberts

The Obesity Guide with Matthea Rentea MD

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There’s no denying that obesity among children is on the rise. But we also know what a sensitive subject weight can be–and one that many parents are reluctant to broach. Do you mention their tightening waistband and risk hurting their feelings? Or do you choose to stay quiet and risk causing even more damage in the long run by not addressing the issue?
As parents, it’s difficult to know how we can support children who are struggling with their relationship with food and their bodies, especially when they are living in a larger body. I recently had the privilege of speaking with Dr. Jane Roberts MD, a pediatrician in Canada who navigates this terrain both in her practice and at home with her own children.
In this episode, we dig into the best ways to approach this topic with your children, and the practical steps you can take to introduce healthier eating habits and a more active lifestyle.

References

Ep. 3: Understanding Childhood Obesity with Dr. Tami Hannon

Audio Stamps

01:14 - Dr. Jane Roberts tells us about the people she helps and how she helps them.

03:56 - Dr. Rentea asks how Dr. Roberts frames the conversation when families first come into her practice.

05:42 - Dr. Roberts explains why she focuses less on weight and more on the genetics of obesity when working with parents.

10:45 - Dr. Roberts shares her top three things that you can do at home to help support a child who may be struggling with their weight management.

15:08 - We learn when kids start to gain awareness about issues related to their body, food, and weight.

19:15 - Dr. Roberts shares the direction she gives to parents when it comes to looking at resources online.

24:20 - Dr. Rentea and Dr. Roberts discuss the importance of family role modeling in supporting kids to make healthy decisions.

28:19 - We hear Dr. Roberts’ take on movement for kids and where the focus should lie.

Quotes

“When parents understand that weight is not our only focus and your genetics are the strongest thing that is probably causing this, it really sets the stage for them to start afresh in a lot of cases with what their expectation is for our clinic.” - Dr. Roberts

“You have to understand that you come from your genetics. You can't run away from your genetics. You can't run away from your risk of obesity. Just like you can't run away from your risk of diabetes.” - Dr. Roberts

“If you have food in your house that is a variety, so you have the healthy foods and you have the ‘sometimes’ foods, then it helps kids make choices.” - Dr. Roberts

“I don't expect you to be over scheduling your children for three activities every night. I do not expect any radical change. I always say, ‘What do you enjoy?’ Just start with that.” - Dr. Roberts

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