Are We Helping or Harming? How We Talk About Children’s Weight Matters

Time:

This event is online and takes place on Thursday 4 June.

7:30 to 8:30 pm New Zealand time

3:30 to 4:30 pm Perth time

The masterclass will be recorded and available to watch for 2 weeks following the event.

Understanding BMI, Growth Charts and Children’s Health

Being told your child’s BMI is “too high” can feel frightening, confusing and deeply unsettling, especially when it comes without context, support or a clear plan.

Many parents are left wondering:

• Is my child healthy?

• Should I be worried?

• Do I need to change what I’m feeding them?

• Should I restrict treats?

• What if I make things worse?

  
  

This is not a weight-loss masterclass. It is a compassionate, practical session for parents who want to understand growth information without increasing fear, shame, restriction or pressure around food.

In our clinical experience, conversations about BMI and weight can become pivotal moments in how a child sees themselves, how they feel in their body, and how they relate to food. These moments may seem small or routine to the person giving the information, but the impact on a child and family can be lasting.

This masterclass will help you respond in a way that protects your child’s relationship with food, supports body image, and reduces the risk of food stress, body shame, disordered eating patterns or eating disorder behaviours.

This evidence-based, non-judgemental masterclass brings together two highly experienced paediatric dietitians, Dr Kyla Smith in Australia and Rachael Wilson in New Zealand, who both specialise in supporting children’s feeding, growth, body image and long-term relationship with food.

Together, Kyla and Rachael bring more than 40 years of combined experience supporting children and families with feeding, growth, body image and relationship-with-food concerns. Both are passionate about helping parents respond to growth and weight concerns in ways that protect children’s wellbeing, rather than increasing fear, pressure or shame.

In this session, they’ll help you make sense of BMI, growth charts, weight messaging and what actually supports children’s long-term health.

We’ll talk about what BMI can and cannot tell us, why children naturally grow at different sizes, and how focusing too heavily on weight can sometimes increase food stress, body shame, restriction and disordered eating patterns. Most importantly, we’ll explore what you can do instead, including practical, compassionate ways to support your child’s health, protect their relationship with food and their body, and feel more confident in how you respond.

What we’ll cover:

• What BMI actually measures, and what it doesn’t

• How to understand growth charts and centiles

• Why weight is not the same as health

• The role of genetics, appetite, growth patterns and family context

• Why restriction and food policing often backfire

• How to support your child’s eating without pressure or shame

• Practical steps based on responsive feeding and the Division of Responsibility

• When it may be helpful to seek individualised support

Best for:

This masterclass is for parents and caregivers who have been told their child’s BMI or weight is “too high”, or who feel worried about their child’s growth, eating, weight or body image, and want a supportive, evidence-informed way forward.

It may also be helpful for parents who want to respond differently to weight-focused health advice, school BMI letters, family comments, or concerns about their child’s eating, without making food or bodies feel like a source of stress or shame.

Time:

This event is online and takes place on Thursday 4 June.

7:30 to 8:30 pm New Zealand time

3:30 to 4:30 pm Perth time

The masterclass will be recorded and available to watch for 2 weeks following the event.

Dr Kyla is a paediatric dietitian with a passion for helping families to feed their children well, without the overwhelm. She has a PhD in childhood weight management and 20 years experience working with restrictive eaters in her clinic and online programs. Kyla is also a mum of two and she knows the struggle today’s parents have with navigating limited time, information overwhelm, picky eaters and societal expectations.

Equity-Based Ticketing Policy for Masterclass:

At The Food Tree, we believe in making our workshops accessible to everyone while also ensuring that those who have the means to pay more can support those with less financial flexibility. To achieve this, we are offering a tiered ticketing system that allows participants to select a pricing tier based on their financial situation and recent holiday experiences.

Please select the tier that best reflects your current circumstances:

Tier 1: Overseas Holiday Pricing

For individuals or families who have taken or are planning to take an overseas holiday this year. By choosing Tier 1, you are helping to subsidise the costs for those who are in less financially stable situations. Your support ensures that more families can access this important workshop.

Tier 2: Domestic Holiday Pricing

For individuals or families who have taken or are planning a holiday within their home country this year. This mid-tier option reflects moderate financial flexibility while still ensuring the workshop remains affordable for those who might need extra support.

Tier 3: No Holiday Pricing

For individuals or families who have not been able to take a holiday this year, either domestically or internationally, due to financial constraints. We want to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to attend, regardless of their financial situation. This lower-cost ticket is designed to keep the workshop accessible for those with limited financial resources.

For New Zealand buyers

Tickets are listed in Australian dollars (AUD). If you are booking from New Zealand, your bank or payment provider will automatically convert the amount into NZD at checkout. The final amount may vary slightly depending on the exchange rate and any bank or card fees.