Midday Fix: Author of “Your Child is Not Their Weight: Parenting in a Size-Obsessed World”

March 24, 2026 - 19:42

A groundbreaking new book is urging parents and healthcare providers to shift their focus away from the scale and toward holistic well-being. "Your Child Is Not Their Weight: Parenting in a Size-Obsessed World" by Dr. Joey Skelton, a professor of pediatrics at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, argues that an overemphasis on weight can be harmful to a child's physical and mental health.

Dr. Skelton, a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, emphasizes that health is multifaceted and cannot be determined by body size alone. The book provides a compassionate framework for families to foster healthy habits without instilling shame or anxiety about weight. It tackles the pervasive culture of diet talk and weight stigma, offering strategies to build positive body image and resilient eating behaviors from a young age.

The work encourages a move towards health-promoting behaviors accessible to all bodies, such as joyful movement and balanced nutrition, while strongly cautioning against restrictive diets for children. By separating weight from worth, Dr. Skelton aims to empower parents to support their children's overall health and self-esteem in a world saturated with unrealistic body ideals. The message is clear: nurturing a child's relationship with their body and food is far more critical than any number on a chart.