The teasing, name-calling, and isolation overweight kids endure outside the home are difficult and painful. Home, to borrow the words of the inimitable Dr. Phil, should be “a soft place to land.” As a parent, it can be hard to figure out how to communicate sensitively, yet still help deal with the social and emotional concerns of being overweight. Here are a few good guidelines:

• Let your child know that he or she is loved, regardless of his or her weight. When children feel appreciated and good about themselves, they're more likely to make healthy choices for themselves.
  
  
• Applaud your child's strengths and abilities, and encourage activities that bring them out.
  
  
• Stay supportive. An overweight child doesn't need a parent who is confrontational or derogatory. They need to know and feel that you are on their side.
  
  
• Set positive, realistic goals. An appropriate goal is for a child to maintain their current weight while growing normally in height.
  
• Instead of focusing specifically on dropping a certain number of pounds, or not adding any more, set goals such as riding a bike or swimming for 20 minutes a day.
  
  
• Express a healthy attitude about your own body (even though you may have your own issues). When your child sees you enjoying physical activity and eating wisely, he or she is more likely to pick up on the life lesson.
  

• Do not prepare separate meals for an overweight child. This will only enhance the feeling of being different and might also be seen as a type of punishment. Healthy meals should be enjoyed by the entire family. It is only necessary to control the quantities eaten by an overweight child.