It’s in the news again – childhood overweight. But this time it’s teenagers talking about what to do, and they came up with the idea of a “shock and awe” campaign to scare people in to action.
The Young Epidemiology Scholars (YES) is a scholarship competition sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. According to a recent article, 25% of this year’s 60 finalists focused their research projects on weight, body image, and exercise. And that’s exactly what needs to happen – get teens talking about what will motivate them to take a healthier approach to food and physical activity.
Several students commented on kids needing to fill a void in their lives – something, a passion or a hobby – because often it’s food that fills that void. It’s no surprise that one teen researcher found that high school students “who are overweight are more likely to be unhappy or insecure in their dating relationships and friendships.”
Kids are filling the void with food. It’s not just adults who eat for emotional reasons. This insight is so important. For those of us trying to craft messages to kids that will get them to adopt healthy behaviors, it’s a glimpse behind the curtain. We will not reach them if we talk about eating healthy and getting physical activity to avoid heart disease and type II diabetes. Instead, how do we communicate in a way that encourages healthy habits that lead to friendships and prom dates, but without implying the need to be skinny to be popular? It's a fine line.
If kids are healthy and feel good about themselves on the inside, won’t that come through on the outside? Again, it’s about respect. We need to ask kids what will work for them, and then be willing to listen to their answers and act on them. We want to respect children and youth – talk to them in their language, communicate in a way that reflects their reality and culture.
Or maybe we need to stop and ask why do kids today have a void in their lives in the first place? Kids are sitting around eating junk food to try and fill an empty space inside themselves. It goes back to what I wrote in an earlier post about the frenetic pace of life today. Kids are scheduled and shuffled from class to class, from school to home or after-school activities, eating more and more meals on the run, and spending more time in front a TV or computer screen. Where is free time? Where is quality time with friends and family? Where are deep connections and open space? Where do kids fill themselves up with something besides food?
