"It
can be very helpful to know what kids' thoughts are about their parents'
weights or maybe past struggles with weight, because that can tell us a
lot about their thinking on family obesity or family weight problems. Some
families might even have a story, for example, "We all have genes that
make us be this way, and no matter what we do, we're destined to be that
way." It's
very helpful for us to know that is what a child is thinking. On the flip
side, some kids might think that they're very different from their family
because they have a weight issue and other family members do not. So it's
really helpful just to get their understanding, particularly nowadays where
we're seeing more kids who might have parents who have had surgical procedures
to address their weight difficulties. We might want to wonder with kids, "Well,
you know, seeing your parents take that step, what does that mean for you?
Is surgery something you think about as a way to try to deal with your
weight and your struggles?" I like to ask them that fairly early on in
treatment."