4 Childhood Obesity Myths Debunked

While I use the word ‘obesity’ in this blog post, I am generally not supportive of this term. Read on to understand why.

‘There is more evidence than ever that obesity treatment in children is safe and effective.’ – American Academy of Pediatrics

This is outrageous.

If you haven’t heard already, The American Academy of Pediatrics recently released a comprehensive guideline on evaluating and treating children and adolescents with obesity.

The guidelines include:

• Higher weight kids, ages 2 and up, be referred for weight management (‘intensive health behavior and lifestyle treatment’)
• Kids over 12 can be suggested weight loss medications 
• Kids over 13 can be referred for bariatric surgery

I Thought Childhood Obesity Was a Health Concern?

It might seem like common knowledge that fat is bad and responsible for every health concern under the sun. But a lot of that narrative is distorted and false. Read on to debunk 4 childhood obesity myths.

Myth #1 Childhood Obesity Treatment is Safe, Effective, and Successful

Each body has a unique ‘set point’ weight that it functions its best at. Studies have shown that 95% of weight lost is regained within 2-5 years. There are physical and emotional risks for children who are put on weight loss drugs or undergo weight loss surgery because they are still developing. Not only that, but metabolic and bariatric surgeries are hardly ‘safe and effective’. Potential risks include:

• Acid reflux

• Anesthesia-related risks

• Chronic nausea and vomiting

• Dilation of esophagus

• Inability to eat certain foods

• Infection

• Obstruction of stomach

• Weight gain or failure to lose weight

• Dumping syndrome, a condition that can lead to symptoms like nausea and dizziness

• Low blood sugar

• Malnutrition

• Vomiting

• Ulcers

• Bowel obstruction

• Hernias

Myth #2 Cardiovascular Disease and Type 2 Diabetes are Caused by Childhood Obesity

Correlation does not equal causation. These associations are correlations at best. People of all sizes are affected by cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. They’re predominantly genetic conditions. As a matter of fact, obese people with cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes have greater longevity than their thinner counterparts. Repeated weight loss and regain is what’s usually the cause of these conditions. A single round of weight fluctuation may damage blood vessels and raise the risk of cardiovascular disease, independent of body weight.

When it comes to diabetes, research shows that any initial improvements attributed to weight loss deteriorate after 6-18 months. Type 2 diabetes can be improved or reversed with changes to nutrition and/or activity habits whether weight loss happens or not.

Myth #3 Weight Loss Improves Health

Diet and exercise only account for 15% of a person’s health outcomes. Stress management, living in a marginalized body, and access to quality medical care and education are some of the other contributing factors.

Referring to obesity as a disease supports body hierarchy, pathologizes bodies that don’t measure up to societal ideals, and leads to weight stigma. Weight stigma affects people in larger bodies physically, psychologically, and socially including contributing to disordered eating and eating disorders. Intentional weight loss is stressful. And if stress affects our health outcomes more than body size, suggesting weight loss is not the health-promoting flex society thinks it is.

Myth #4 Childhood Obesity Is A Disease

The term ‘obesity’ is determined from the BMI scale. The BMI was developed by a Belgian astronomer and statistician in 1832. It was never meant to be used as a measurement of health. It’s based on mostly white, middle- to upper-class European males’ weight and height. Which means it doesn’t take into account ethnic diversities in body composition.Even though the scale doesn’t consider age, sex, body size, fat distribution, or behaviors and lifestyle, doctors use it today to measure health. Insurance, pharmaceutical, and weight loss industries profit off of the supposed ‘obesity epidemic’ we’re supposed to be concerned about.

What’s the Solution?

Privileges like freedom from prejudice, access to quality nutrition, and environmental safety are unfortunately not accessible to everyone. Changing structural systems that influence obesity like racism, socioeconomic, and environmental factors are where public health should be focused.

Educating ourselves on the dangers of fatphobia is our individual responsibility. If you’re ready to adopt a weight neutral mindset, consider filling out an application for 1-1 nutrition coaching. Together we’ll deprogram diet culture from your brain so you can show respect to your body and others.