A new study shows parents should not talk about their daughters weight, even when she is normal or healthy.

Cornell Food & Brand Lab investigators discovered that commenting on your daughters weight makes her less likely to be happy with her weight as an adult.

The findings, which can be read in the journal Eating & Weight Disorders and display how parents commenting on weight made women more prone to be less satisfied with their weight and to be overweight as adults.

“Commenting on a woman’s weight is never a good idea, even when they are young girls,” says  Brian Wansink, Ph.D. author of “Slim by Design: Mindless Eating Solutions for Everyday Life” and lead author on the study.

This study included over 500 women ranging in age from 20-35 years old, and were surveyed about their body image and were asked how many times they remembered their parents commenting on their weight growing

up.

Those surveyed with a healthy BMI were 27% less likely to remember their parents saying anything weight related, and 28% less likely to remember their parents mentioning overeating habits compared to the women who had a higher body mass index.

To be noted, both the overweight and average weight participants said their parents talking about their weight at a young age made them less happy about their bodies overall.

Researchers found that this shows weight related conversations can be hurtful and detrimental regardless of BMI to young girls.

“If you’re worried about your child’s weight, avoid criticizing them or restricting food. Instead, nudge healthy choices and behaviors by giving them freedom to choose for themselves and by making the healthier choices more appealing and convenient,” Wansink said.

“After all, it’s the choices that children make for themselves that will lead to lifelong habits.”

For the full article on Psych Central click HERE