Your child is overweight. You might think they are not exercising enough or that they are eating too much sugar but there are so many other aspects to consider. Here are some of the factors: 

• From whom or what is your child protecting themselves? We allow a layer of extra weight on our bodies when we are protecting ourselves from individuals or circumstances in our lives. Is your child receiving their love language? Are their needs being met? Do they feel understood?

• Sometimes when we keep reaching for food, our bodies are searching for nutrients. We may not be consuming enough nutrients or we may not be properly absorbing our nutrients. A hair analysis test can tell us if either of these situations is occurring. And then following the protocol to heal the gut will help our bodies absorb the minerals and vitamins from our food once again.         

• Children need to cleanse just as much as adults. Is your child cleansing enough? Our bodies cleanse through Epsom salt baths (purchase them from a health store because they are more mineral rich), drinking lots of filtered water, exercising (keep heart rate up for twenty minutes minimum every day or every other day), eating fruits and vegetables and taking probiotics.

• Does your child have food sensitivities or allergies? If so, they are not absorbing the nutrients from the foods to which they are adversely reacting. And those foods can also be increasing the inflammation in your child’s body, which, in turn, increase the swelling and subsequent weight gain.  Wheat is a common allergen in North America and a big contributor to weight gain.  

• Is your child having larger portions than their bodies need? A portion size of any food is the size and thickness of their palm (not including the fingers and thumb). I have had many parents tell me their children don’t eat enough but when they learn what a portion size is, they stop worrying.    

These are just a few examples of what to look at when understanding weight gain in children from a physical or emotional standpoint. Now, how would you take a more spiritual approach to wellness?   

Here are 5 examples of how to take a more spiritual approach to wellness:

1. You, the parent, can meditate to determine what area to focus on in terms of your particular child’s wellness.
2. You, the parent, can pray and specifically ask that you be shown how to meet your child’s emotional needs so they feel loved and safe and can stop feeling the need to protect themselves.        
3. Your child can go for past life regression to see if there is insight that would be helpful in this life. I helped a child, who was obsessed with being thin learn that in her last life she was very overweight. Her father used to show his love for her by feeding her far too many treats. One child starved in their last life and can’t get enough food in this life!
4. If your child wants to lose weight, you can teach them how to visualize themselves being slimmer and how they will feel when they can run faster or are stronger. The more often they get a sense of how this will feel, the more they increase their chances of it happening in reality.
5. If your child wants to lose weight, you can help them determine what they are protecting themselves from and then create an affirmation to support their weight loss goal. Examples might be “I now know I am safe. I can see a happier, healthier version of myself” or “I know how to protect myself from the anger of others. I am my own person and am safe.”    

These five examples are just the beginning of how you can take a spiritual approach to wellness with your overweight child. You know your child better than any expert. You know what’s right for your child and when to ask for help. There are many health professionals out there; not everyone takes a spiritual approach to wellness.

Hi! I’m Meredith Deasley. I offer nutritional consulting (including hair analysis and food sensitivity testing), life coaching and a spiritual approach to wellness, including past-life regression. You can contact me for a free 15 minute consultation or to book an appointment. My three books explain more about all aspects of wellness for families.