Blog Archive
Posts for Parents
Diet talk is everywhere. It shows up at family gatherings, on social media, in TV shows, and in the tiny comments we make without thinking. It is so common that many adults are not even aware they are doing it.
At some point, many parents reach a quiet crossroads around food. You’ve tried to stay relaxed. You don’t want to make eating a “thing.” But when your child keeps asking for more, grazes constantly, or seems unsatisfied no matter what you offer, uncertainty creeps in. Should you tighten the structure? Let it go? Say something…
My name is Elle Jones, I’m 18 and was one of the WithAll 2021 summer interns. Throughout the summer, I worked on a project focused on infusing youth voices into WithAll’s What to Say program. Research shows that what adults say matters, but WithAll wanted to hear from teens like me how it matters and…
We all want our kids to have a healthy relationship with food and their bodies. But in today's world, it can be increasingly difficult to know how to best support children's physical and mental health. As a parent, you have a powerful opportunity to shape the way your children think about and feel in their…
GLP-1 medications — the category that includes Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound — were originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes. They’re now widely marketed for weight loss. And if you’ve noticed the ads, so have your kids. Here’s what WithAll’s Executive Director thinks parents need to know.
Doctors can be excellent partners in helping kids develop positive body image and food relationships. We partnered with one of the family physicians in our What to Say Network to share the top advice she gives to parents for supporting kids’ health at home. Here’s what she had to say:
How do you support kids in building healthy habits around screens, sleep, movement, and more, without using guilt as a motivator? In this short video, Dr. Kelsey Varzeas, clinician, research scientist, and Certified Mental Performance Consultant, shares practical ways to foster positive routines rooted in structure and care, not shame.
Kids notice everything: who gets seconds, who “needs” more exercise, whose lunch is commented on, whose isn’t. Even when you’re trying to help, it’s easy for one child to feel like the child with “the problem.”
When it comes to youth sports, it’s easy to believe that better performance comes from pushing harder, training longer, or being more disciplined. But athletes who compete at the highest levels know something important: health is not separate from performance. It’s the foundation of it.
What should you do when your child starts comparing their body to others—especially at places like the pool? In this 90-second video, psychologist and WithAll Expert Advisory Panel member Dr. Charlotte Markey shares practical ways to guide kids through those moments with compassion and clarity.
It can feel uncertain when your child tells you someone called them “fat.” Before rushing in to fix it, take a breath. This is your chance to help your child build confidence, resilience, and a healthy relationship with their body.
It can feel unsettling when a doctor tells you your child needs to lose or gain weight. You want to trust your provider. You also want to protect your child’s physical and mental health. And in a culture that constantly focuses on weight, it can be hard to know what the right next step is.