welcome
Slate Magazine

Slate Magazine

Health

Health

How to tell a 5-year-old that her mother’s insulting comments about overweight people are wrong?

Slate Magazine
Summary
Nutrition label

52% Informative

My sister-in-law has a habit of making insulting comments about overweight people when she is out with her 5-year-old daughter.

She will point out someone who is large and tell her, “That’s what happens when you eat too much.” Prudie Phones a Friend .

Expert: Most of our body size/weight is out of our control, not just because some people “eat too much.

You could be helping shape your niece’s body image and protect her from the shame, anxiety, and disgust that girls and women often feel when they believe they must be thin to be attractive and desirable and fail to meet this standard.

You should also know that you wrote your letter and decided to address this issue at the perfect time.

You can ask your niece what her favorite foods are and enjoy food with her using affirming language that 5-year-olds love, like, “That was so yummy!” Your sister-in-law may not be able to remove this risk entirely if Marie is unwilling to change.

Read full article