A letter to teachers....

Dear Teachers, Coaches and Counselors,

     As a mom, thank you for the endless hours spent caring, supporting, mentoring and teaching young people.  Your job is truly one of selflessness. As a dietitian with an expertise in eating disorders, I would like to pass on a few suggestions to promote normal eating and healthy body image. Even if Health is not your subject, random dialogue about weight and food can be potentially harmful to those young people who are struggling with eating disorders.

1. Avoid categorizing foods into good and bad.  Sure, some food choices are better than others, however moderation in all foods is key for a healthy relationship with food.
   
2. Resist talking about weight loss diets. Remember that weight loss, maintenance and weight gain is simply about calories in versas calories out. There is no magical solution. Boring, but true.
   
3. Resist promoting gluten free, sugar free, and carb free lifestyles unless there is a medical reason for eliminating or reducing these food groups. Most people eventually end up overeating or binge eating food groups that they have eliminated.
   
4. Avoid talking about weight. Weight is a sensitive subject for growing and changing adolescents.
   

Food and weight conversations are ubiquitous. We cannot protect our young people from everything. However, as influential educators, you can make a positive impact on the health and body esteem of young people.

Thank you,

Pam Chin-Lai