The Weight-ing Room

A couple of weeks ago, I took my oldest to see a specialist at the local children’s hospital regarding some UTI issues. I filled out papers, provided proof of insurance (a.k.a. proof of payment) and then sat back with my daughter and waited to be summoned for our audience with the doctor. While waiting, we heard the nurses in the front office having an easy-to-hear discussion about their New Years’ diets.

Malnourished Medicos

These educated, degreed, licensed, practicing medical professionals proceeded to compare notes on which foods counted for what points, had what carbs, which fats, and of course, how many calories. They were as impassioned as sports fanatics analyzing college basketball during March Madness.

Lettuce Prey

Then the conversation got really strange. One of the women, who from the tone of her voice and speech patterns seemed to be the Alpha of the group, begins to expound on the finer points of lettuce as a healthy food – not because of fiber, vitamins, or plant-based chemicals that are beneficial, but rather because it took up space on a plate and in a stomach with not fat, few calories, and even fewer carbs.

At this point, my daughter, who is a Size Acceptance advocate in training, and I looked at each other, eyes wide, brows raised. Then the nurses’ dialogue digressed even further into food OCD when the Alpha then praised romaine lettuce in particular for only being “30 calories per ounce.”

Momma Says

This is when I started a conversation with my eleven year old daughter. I explained, “Don’t ever obsess over food like that, unless you absolutely have to for medical reasons, like a food allergy or some other health concern.” I then used the example of my mom, who is diabetic and in stage two chronic kidney disease and now has to watch her potassium levels (too high).

Thankfully, having already had conversations with both of my girls about size acceptance, HAES, intuitive eating, and not attaching shame to food, my oldest daughter already knew that obsessing over the miniscule calorie count of a lettuce leaf was not healthy for many reasons: physical, mental, and emotional.

Taking Them To School

Part of me wanted to tell these women that they were sending all kinds of negative body image and (mal)nutrition messages by having their conversation within earshot of children, but my mom-self won out as I had a daughter who was rather nervous about a bunch of strangers looking at her nether regions, so I decided to fight the SA battle another day, another way, by sending a letter to the hospital’s administration to suggest that the staff keep their discussions of extreme diets out of earshot of patients. 

Conversations like this by medical professionals where kids can hear reinforce some harmful thoughts and behaviors for kids who may be already dealing with eating disorders, body shame, and food shame simply by virtue of, “I heard some nurses (i.e. medical experts) say…” It’s food for thought. 

How do you teach your kids about Size Acceptance and Health At Every Size?

Born and raised in Northeast Ohio with her BA and MA from the University of Akron, Mary has 20 years experience in the corporate sector working for local companies and Fortune 500s in customer service, PR, sales, advertising, and broadcast media. She currently teaches English Composition at Stark State College and UA. Her passion is living and teaching tolerance while pushing for Size Acceptance. She hopes to inform as many everyday Americans that the issue of Size is not an issue at all but merely a distraction from the real issues, such as the decline in public education, our infrastructure, economy and healthcare system. Mary loves irritating people by speaking her mind and presenting them with annoying facts, contrary opinions, and life's little ironies; when not doing that, she loves being with her family.