Jan 14 2009
Food as a Punishment or Reward
Complications of Obesity in Children and Adolescents
There is a childhood obesity epidemic in the United States with over 16 percent of school-age children reported to be overweight.
At home and at school, food is often used as a reward to encourage “good” behavior, or withheld to punish “bad” behavior. Often, these food rewards are “empty calorie” foods that are high in sugar, fat and salt, and low in nutritional value. They increase chances of obesity and teach kids to reward themselves with unhealthy foods and to eat when they are not hungry.
Kids perceive foods used as a reward more valuable and develop a preference for candy, cookies, and soda over vegetables, fruits, and juices.
Food rewards can cause children them to develop life-long habits of comforting themselves with unhealthy food choices. Food may become tied emotions, such as feelings of success: “I deserve a hot fudge sundae because I met my goal.”
Withholding food for punishment may cause kids to overeat because they become afraid they won’t have enough food to eat later.
Using food as a punishment or reward can lead to eating disorders.
Kids need a supportive environment that supports healthy meals and snacks at regular intervals non-contingent on their behavior.
Suggestions for Non-Food Rewards for Kids:
- Verbal reinforcement: “I am proud of you for getting good grades” or “You did a great job.”
- Hug your child
- Allow your child to stay up later on a non-school night.
- Let your child chose a video for your family to watch
- Take your child to the library to select a book to read
- Take a trip to a department store and let your child pick out art supplies, stencils, glitter, pencils, pens and erasers.
If you have any further suggestions, please feel free to leave them.
Recovery Rocks!
Roxie
