Healthcare professionals have been calling childhood obesity a national epidemic for years but only recently has the extent of the problem become a part of the national conversation. Some statistics just can’t be ignored, such as the fact that 15 percent of American children, ages 6 to 11, are considered seriously overweight, a number that has tripled over the past thirty years. Obesity puts children at high risk for health problems including type II diabetes, hypertension and heart disease and for becoming obese adults.
There is another aspect to this problem that is less discussed and is just as harmful — the emotional toll obesity takes on children.
Overweight children are prone to low self-esteem, negative body image, depression and anxiety. Recent studies show that these youngsters are often ignored or ostracized by their peers, which results in their continually turning to food for comfort. This creates a pattern of isolation and poor eating habits that can lead to devastating long-term physical and emotional problems as they get older.
Although it is natural to self-isolate when one is feeling sad or depressed, this behavior only exacerbates existing problems. In addition to eating more, overweight kids exercise less and become less involved in the world around them. This pattern perpetuates feelings of shame, hopelessness, and helplessness that can develop into full-blown clinical depression if untreated.
One way to break this negative cycle is to introduce these children to the joy of using their inherent creativity as an alternative to overeating and isolation. Guiding children to using their imagination and natural creativity will provide them with the tools to express their feelings and emotions in healthy and productive ways. I call this process The Creative Imperative.
The techniques used in The Creative Imperative help eradicate feelings of emptiness and depression, while creating positive change. For obese children this is especially important because how they see themselves and others at this point in their development will leave a lasting imprint on how they live the rest of their lives.
So how do you use The Creative Imperative? Here are a few suggestions.
FIND YOUR CHILD’S CREATIVE LANGUAGE – Every person has a natural way of expressing him- or herself. All you have to do as a parent is find your child’s creative language. Is your child more of a painter? A writer? Does he or she like to take pictures? Does she build models or plant flowers? Encourage your child to use that language to develop a project and then share this creation with others. This form of self-expression allows children to express their feelings in a safe and positive way, especially if talking about low self-esteem directly is too difficult for them. Getting them to use their unique language to convey their feelings will keep them from turning to food for comfort.
If you are not sure what your child’s natural language is, spend time watching them. What are their hobbies? Are there any activities that don’t include watching TV or playing videogames that your child likes to do for extended periods of time?
Creative language breaks down into four broad types of expression: Performing, Writing, Crafting, or Experimenting.
If your child is a natural performer, you probably already know it. Does he or she have a natural talent for singing, telling jokes, playing music or acting? If any of these immediately come to mind, you are probably on to something. Consider ways to get them involved through local performing arts organizations.
If your child’s talent is less obvious, it does not mean that it is not there, you just might need to dig a little to find it. Does your child prefer to read stories? If so, try encouraging him or her to make up a story and write it down and see if creative writing takes hold.
On the other hand if your child is more of a crafter, and enjoys making things get some crafts materials in your house and see what they do.
Finally, if your child is more of an experimenter — that is, they like to experiment, tinker, or build things, by all means give them the chance to do this. See if you can connect them with people who share their interests. Some of the most successful entrepreneurs start out as experimenters.
You can also consider inspiring your child by exposing them to the creativity of others. This does not need to be a museum. Looking at the work of graffiti artists or comic books together and considering what the artist intended to express is a creative process as well. At the very least it will be quality time together.
SHARE A CREATIVE PROJECT – by sharing what they create, children learn to express themselves without the immediate gratification of consuming empty calories. This can improve self-esteem and self-awareness and creates pathways for establishing relationships with others.
Also, invite your child to share in your passion. If you have a way that you like to express yourself, chances are that your child’s preferred creative language may be similar to yours. If you like to draw, sculpt, or needlepoint, ask your son or daughter if they want to join you. You may be surprised by their response. Even if your invitation isn’t immediately accepted, try creating in front of your child to see if it sparks his or her interest.
By using The Creative Imperative, overweight children can change the course of their lives – both physically and mentally. Getting kids to follow their natural creative instincts is not hard. Giving kids the tools to develop their own creative language will give their self-esteem a boost and make them far more resilient when life throws them the inevitable curve ball. Kids that have active imaginations build the skills to turn their dreams into action and will be far less likely to feel stuck with their negative feelings. If their creative minds are strong they will be able to use them to solve problems over the course of their lives and grow to be happy and healthy adults.
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