How Mothers and Mentors Talk about Obesity

I have to admit I am stealing this topic from a classmate. My research methods class allows each student to develop a research proposal about any food-related topic, and for the next few weeks we get to read and comment on every topic as the class comes to an end.

This week I was inspired by the topic of how mothers are identifying with and managing the childhood obesity epidemic in their homes. Because I want to work with kids about food issues, I want to throw myself into this too and include mentors. I remember conversations with coworkers in Arizona in which we talked about our high school views of health--I actually drank Slim Fast for breakfast and ate anything that said low-fat--and I think it is really important to have food role models that guide children and teenagers in eating and health decisions.

Finally, at age 25, I don't think much about my weight, because I think of eating as something much bigger than that. I make food choices based on 100 different things, the last being what the impact is on my weight. I eat responsibly, compassionately, joyfully and industriously, and typically this means healthfully. I eat whatever I want, it's just that "whatever I want" no longer includes processed versions of fat, sugar and salt. But for most of my life I struggled with eating and body image concerns. It was only after I stopped thinking about myself as primary that it was natural for me to eat in ways that nourished me correctly. I am incredibly aware of how my body feels after eating now, and can easily tell what I need to right myself-- more greens, more water, less sugar, etc. I am grateful for this attitude transformation, something I know will persist throughout my life, but I am very curious about how to facilitate this kind of relationship in others.

Though my passions run counter to this claim, I do not think food is something people should obsess about. I mean, of course, that its impact on our bodies should not be an obsession. The competing concerns of overweight and anorexia seem to dominate conversations about young women, which is truly sad (few people will be surprised to learn that robbing children and teens of their innocence and lightheartedness boils my blood). For me, including externals into the conversation changed my habits which in turn allowed me to come to a healthy relationship with food and my body. I don't know if this is what works for other people, but I would like to assume that it is. Therefore, spreading awareness about food security issues could encourage healthy relationships for other people, specifically children that are developing their tastes and habits.

What has influenced your relationship with food and your understanding of health? How has your family played a role in this, and how have things like advertising or marketing been influential? What do you think needs to be done for younger generations to be healthier, and who should be in charge of this?