More than likely, someone you care about is overweight. After all, 25-percent of Americans are medically obese, but 100-percent of us have feelings that can be hurt by thoughtless comments. That’s why we checked with the experts to bring you this short-course in obesity etiquette:
- Let’s start withbusiness colleagues and acquaintances. Mary Mitchell is the author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Etiquette. She says when you’re dealing with someone who isn’t a part of your “inner circle,” you should never discuss their weight - even if they joke about it. Instead, do what you can to discreetly make the other person comfortable. For example, if the two of you are somewhere that requires a lot of walking you could say, “Do you mind if we stop for a minute? I need to rest. ”
- If you’re concerned for a friend’s health: Nutritionist Jennifer Waugh suggests asking them to join you in healthy activities. Say, meeting for a walk after work or replacing your regular lunch date with a Pilates class.
- What should you do when someone you love puts on weight? Dr. David Haslam is chairman of the National Obesity Forum in the UK. He says that 90-percent of us want our significant other to answer questions like, “Do these pants make me look fat?” honestly. Easier said than done, right? If you get one of those questions, try something like, “I know this is hard to hear, but you’ve gained a few pounds. What can we do to get healthy together?”
- What if you’re concerned about your child’s waistline? Susan Bartel is the author of Dr. Susan’s Fit and Fun Family Action Plan. She says the last thing you want to do isput them on a diet. That’s because it’s never healthy for a child or teen to think about restricting food. Your best bet is to model good behavior and suggest healthy choices. Like saying, “I could use a little brain food before my big meeting tomorrow. Let’s have salad and salmon tonight.” That’ll help teach your kids to think about what they eat AND how it affects their overall wellness and success.
