This week I’m thinking about consequences with the death of James Gandolfini at the age of 51. Known for his struggle with obesity as much for his portrayal of Tony Soprano in the HBO television series, Gandolfini openly discussed his weight and how it affected his life. And while I didn’t know him personally and have no idea whether or not his being overweight bothered him, I do feel comfortable in saying that his life was shortened by his obesity.
In this case, the consequences of being overweight are severe. Death at age 51 is much too early but more than that, the actor had two children who will never know their father as adults.
All of this is a long-winded way of saying that sometimes we have to take difficult actions to help our overweight children. It may not be fun to put more energy into preparing a healthy meal rather than breezing through a fast-food restaurant but the benefits are far greater. While it may be easier to stick your child in front of the television with a bowl of ice cream and it will take more effort to come up with a creative activity, the consequences of putting some work into teaching your child to play without eat will stay with him or her for a lifetime.
Consequences can be either positive or negative based on the actions you take right now. The choice is up to you.
This Blog Post Was Written By Debbie Danowski, PHD, author of the book, Why Can’t My Child Stop Eating — A Guide to Helping Your Child Overcome Emotional Overeating.
