This week, WW – formerly Weight Watchers, announced the release of a free weight-loss app for children ages 8-17 names Kurbo. The announcement made me angry and heartbroken for another generation of children being handed the rules of dieting for the benefit of a company’s profit. As I’ve spoken out about this announcement, it’s become clear that not everyone understands the reaction to this announcement by eating disorder professionals, parents, and eating disorders and diet-culture survivors. 

Diet culture affects every part of our culture, including childhood development, parenting and healthcare. As a dietitian who works with individuals with eating disorders and who is familiar with feeding and diet research, it’s clear to me that any kind of weight-loss diet directed to children is harmful. The American Academy of Pediatrics made a statement in 2016 supporting that children should not be put on diets and weight should not be a focus of their healthcare. 

I’ve received many questions this week about the concerns over the weight-loss app and I’m going to attempt to address them here. They are all valid questions, given our culture. The concerns about this app are contrary to the generally accepted opinion about weight and health in our culture. However, the focus on weight throughout all parts of our culture is increasing eating disorder rates, leading to weight cycling (and the many health problems associated with weight cycling), and causing emotional harm to adults and children. It’s time for a paradigm shift. 

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By: Karen Manschot, MS, RDN, LDN

Guest Post Writer

Summer continues to move right along – it is hard to believe that it is already August! Days are longer, the sun is more intense, and it seems that the heat and humidity are here to stay. School will be out for a few more weeks and it is prime time to enjoy the remaining longer, sunnier days. Also, for mnay, sports will be gearing back up soon for and children will be playing in the heat of the sun.

With increased time in the sun, comes an increased risk for dehydration. For parents with children who are involved in sports or are especially physically active, it can feel daunting to determine what, and when, your child should drink fluids. Choosing to adopt an “all fluids fit” approach to hydration can help both you and your active child feel more at ease about hydrating this summer. 

H₂0

A Google search of “hydration tips for kids” yields a staggering 14 million results. Many of the articles from this search promote the consumption of water as a primary means of hydration. Water consumption is certainly important for kids and adults alike. Our bodies are approximately 60% water and our muscles are approximately 75% water. Water serves to lubricate our joints and tissues, it helps regulate our body temperature, it transports nutrients and oxygen to and from our cells, and it transports wastes out of our body.

We consume water in its liquid form, of course, and it’s the main ingredient in all beverages. So, children consume water no matter the beverage they are drinking. It is also present in varying amounts in the foods that we eat. More on that in a future post.

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