January 13, 2000
Boosting Obese Kids Self-Esteem
The percentage of obese children in the United States doubled in the past 20 years to 17 percent, according to statistics. A recent study cited in USA Today this week on 1,090 U.S. children found that obese children begin suffering from low self-esteem after the fifth grade, and by the eighth grade, their self-esteem is often below their classmates'. UAB family counseling expert Solange Ribeiro, C.R.C., offers parents of obese children these tips:
"Find activities your child can do that don't depend on body image. Community service projects, for instance, will give them a sense of belonging. Also, include them in family projects to help them feel like an important member of the family."
Call Gail Short, Media Relations, 205-934-8931 or email [email protected].
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