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Last week I attended a luncheon on Childhood Obesity.  On the panel were distinguished professionals in the field: the head of nutrition for the Centers for Disease Control, pediatricians from the local children’s hospital and exercise experts. The audience of 300 Atlanta glitterati included local media people, state legislators, and big donors from around the city.  

Given my passion for this topic, I eagerly awaited the distinguished panelists’ remarks.  In her opening prayer, Dr. Kathleen Hall shared the importance of mindfulness and the connection between stress and weight.  

“OK,” my therapist-self thought.  “They get it!” 

Each of the speakers brought their perspective to the issue, like the blind men describing the elephant (“It’s like a rope!” “It’s like a wall,” ‘It’s like a snake”).   We heard about BMIs ("Body mass index" is a measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to adult men and women) and negative health consequences of obesity. We were told about programs being implemented to “decrease energy intake” and “increase energy expenditure” in our state.  I waited and listened for someone to address the missing piece.  

Why was no one talking about the heart of the elephant?  Is it because we are like the blind men, and we cannot see it, touch it or measure it? 

When it was time for the Questions and Answers, I got that sick feeling in my stomach that I used to get as a kid in class when I was itching to speak up. 

I was gripped by fear.  All of these important people!  What if I freeze up? Blank out? Sound stupid?  

Encouraged by friends, I got in line at the audience microphones.  I was ready to grab the mike.   

“Well, we are all out of time!” the moderator announced. “Thank you everyone for coming!”  

Sigh.

So here are four points I wish I had had the chutzpah to make that day:  

·      (1)  The Key Role of Emotions:  If obesity was simply a matter of socio-economics, nutrition education, more sidewalks and access to fruits and veggies, then no one in a room full of successful, educated people would be overweight.  Even those of us who know about healthy eating and exercise may find it hard to do “the right” thing.   And why is it so difficult?  Call it what you will: serotonin deficit, anxiety, stress eating, inadequate emotional coping skills, buried trauma, low self-esteem.  But unless we teach our kids healthy emotional coping skills, then they will turn to food to manage their sadness, stress, anger and boredom, just like their parents!  Mental health is at the heart of physical health. 

·      (2)  Health vs. Weight.  This may just seem like semantic hair-splitting, but The Fat is Bad message can be highly destructive.  Kids are already getting this message on the playground, in the media and in their homes.  This is the core belief that leads to anorexia, bulimia and secret binge-eating.  We need a national paradigm shift to a  “Health at Any Size” mind-set.  For the sake of our kids, we must be mindful of the message.   

·      (3)  Weightism is a Human Rights Issue. Kids learn about anti-semitism, slavery and sexism in school, but “weight-ism” should also be included in diversity lessons.  The argument against this is: “but you can control your weight!”  So, therefore it’s okay to discriminate, harass and bully you?  Cyber-bullies often attack victims’ weight, knowing that this cuts to the core.  Weight-ism should be part of anti-bullying campaigns, and kids should be taught Compassion and Empathy for each other, especially regarding this issue.

·      (4)  Body Image vs. Self-Image.  While we are connected to our bodies, we are more than our bodies.  In a world that focuses on the outsides, obesity prevention efforts should address what makes someone beautiful as a person, because someone who LOVES themselves is more likely to take care of themselves.  Any efforts which may cause kids to feel ashamed about their weight may only make them heavier, since they are likely using food to soothe and comfort themselves.  

If all this seems too hard, EDIN’s programs have addressed all of these issues for the past seven years. But we are a small organization; we don’t receive government funding or have a national PR campaign.  We need a radical shift in consciousness before we can truly have an impact and we need your help. 

Thank you.

Dina Zeckhausen is a nationally-known clinical psychologist and author who specializes in treating eating disorders and body image in both adults and adolescents. She is a weekly columnist for ShareWiK.com. You can visit her on the web at dinazeckhausen.com and MyEdin.org.

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