Original source (on modern site) | Article images: [1] [2]
"What are those needles in the fridge?" my 11-year-old, Nell, asked, peering at the boxed Ozempic medication that I had not-so-discreetly placed on the top shelf of our refrigerator. "Oh, they're Mommy's new medicine," I said nonchalantly, frantically trying to figure out how I would approach the fact that I'm taking a somewhat controversial weight loss medication with my preteen daughter. That night I knocked on Nell's bedroom door while she was getting ready for bed. I asked if she wanted to chat about the medication she had found. We ended up snuggled in her bed while I explained that my doctor had recommended that I take the medication because it would help me balance my blood sugar. "I'm healthy, but the medication will help me be even healthier," I explained. At this point, Nell didn't know what Ozempic was, and she hadn't seen any videos online or heard about celebrities using the drug. We focused on my desire to grow stronger and healthier, and I explained that one of the side effects is that my body could change. "I love my body now, and I'll love my body if it changes," I explained. With my 9-year-old, I had a similar conversation. We agreed to keep the line of communication open, and over the next few months we did. Sometimes I was extra tired, and I'd explain that was one of the side effects of my medication. When we saw a commercial on TV for Ozempic, we talked about the messaging of the commercial and why the media was talking about the drug more and more. "Not everything the media says is true," I explained, which led to a deeper analysis of media literacy. "We learned about this at school," Nell added. After six months, I decided to go off of Ozempic for a variety of reasons: my insurance wouldn't cover it, and the side effects were impacting my quality of life. My kids didn't ask, so I didn't mention that I'd stopped taking it until they randomly noticed the medication had disappeared from the fridge. How to approach semaglutide and weight-loss conversations with kids.
Nicole Roder, a board-certified therapist in Columbia, Maryland, has personal and professional experience in navigating these types of tough conversations with your kids: Roder was also prescribed a semaglutide in the past. "I try not to tell parents what they should or shouldn't do. That being said, I do think it's appropriate to tell your kids if you're taking a semaglutide like Ozempic," Roder told HuffPost.
Roder recommends having an age-appropriate conversation with your children. For older children who have been exposed to different media about Ozempic, it's best to keep the communication lines open.
"The best way to balance these perspectives is to foster open dialogue so you can know what they've heard and provide corrective information if necessary…. I recommend letting them ask questions…. That goes for any touchy subject, not just weight loss drugs," Roder said. She added that you can also ask open-ended questions, like "What have you heard about this medication?"
Roder said that she kept an open conversation with her own children while she was taking a semaglutide and that she explained the medication was prescribed to help improve her health. Her children mainly wanted to know if the needle hurt.
"It's best to keep this conversation about health and not body image," said Roder. "Talk about your health reasons for taking the drug and the health benefits you hope to gain."
She added that it's important to prioritize a healthy outlook on body image with your children. Never make disparaging comments about your body, and focus on positive comments, like your strong arms or the fact that your stretch marks are a reminder of the joy of bringing your kids into the world, she said.
Illustration:Jianan Liu/HuffPost; Photo:Getty Images
Semaglutide and weight-loss conversations with kids can be tricky, but experts have tips.Samantha DeCaro, a psychologist and the director of clinical outreach and education at The Renfrew Center, has a different opinion on the subject.
"Parents shouldn't discuss any method or strategy they're using to intentionally pursue weight loss, including dieting or using weight loss products," DeCaro said. She added that talking to your children about your medication usage can increase the risk of them internalizing harmful beliefs about body image.
If your child notices that your body is changing, DeCaro says you should "validate what the child is observing but do so in a completely neutral way. Remind your child that bodies come in all shapes and sizes, and we can't tell how someone is feeling or how healthy they are by looking at them."
Los Angeles-based therapist Torri Efron Pelton says that choosing to talk to your children about your weight loss medication is a personal choice that will depend on each child.
"I encourage parents to take a holistic health approach and not focus on the weight loss but rather the health goals and benefits," she said.
"The first step is for the parent to really understand their own motives and goals for taking [the weight loss medication] and what values they want to pass on to their children," Efron Pelton said. "If your child is not asking questions or is not curious, the best way to go about it would be to talk to your children the same way you would about any other medicine or medical condition."
Efron Pelton recommended the following phrases and questions to guide the conversation:
DeCaro suggested responding with these phrases if your child notices and comments on your weight loss:
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPost
Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.
< Back to 68k.news BR front page![[1]](image.php?loc=BR&i=https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/6633b79f2300001f0088f4e7.jpg?ops=1200_630){kind=link}
![[2]](image.php?loc=BR&i=https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/6633b79f2300001f0088f4e7.jpg?ops=scalefit_720_noupscale){kind=link}