08/21/2019
@ww (formerly known as weight watchers) has just launched an app for kids-
called KURBO.
It’s aim is at children (age 8-17)
On their website- there are “Success” stories featuring-
Bright-eyed Sophie- Age 8, who has dropped 11 BMI points As well as, ear-to-ear ginning Robby- age 10, who has lost 42 pounds.
The app allows kids to track their food utilizing a traffic light system
Green= All the time foods
Yellow= Some of the time foods
Red= Hardly ever foods
As a recovering perfectionist and people pleaser-
You can BET the two people who I wanted to PLEASE THE MOST- as a kid
...were my parents.
My parents telling me they were proud of me-
Was the equivalent of someone throwing a butt load of popsicles to sweaty kids on a 90 degree day...
HEAVEN.
So when parents inadvertently send the message of “your body is flawed- & when you lose weight, decrease BMI, etc.- then things will be ‘happier’ …
It can confuse a child trying to piece together if they are “worthy and valuable-
just how they are”
ONE of the main reasons I don’t take transformation photos of my ADULT clients-
is because I want them to understand that
THEY ARE ENOUGH AS THEY ARE.
They are WORTHY and they are LOVED-
EXACTLY HOW THEY ARE.
NOT “after”- NOW!
-
Increasing fruit and veggie intake, getting enough sleep, volunteering in the community, moving our bodies, laughing with others, creating art, setting boundaries etc. are ALL wonderful health behaviors that can be taught to kids-
But when weight loss, BMI & transformation photos are the only things featured in the “success” stories-
a different message gets painted.
above picture = me at 10 y/o
(I know, I’m about as awkward as a dog wearing a parka in the Atlanta Airport)
At this age, I had NOT developed my disordered eating patterns *yet*
I was too preoccupied with lemonade & otter pop stands, painted shoe-box coffins for my hamster that just died- and...learning the states in alphabetical order.
Having an app like this would have not only prolonged my disordered eating patterns-
It would have been subconsciously reinforcing a DEEP rooted LIE of unworthiness from the two people I could count on to love me no matter what- my parents.
