Putting overweight kids on a really restrictive diet isn’t the right solution to the problem, according to nutritionists and paediatricians. Dieting apps and programs targeted for children only exacerbate the problem. The issue will grow bigger than just physical health.

In America, diet and weight-loss products and services are a huge industry. Last year, the business brought in almost $7.2 billion, yet an estimated 160 million citizens are still overweight or obese. Among children, around 13% of them are heavier than their healthy weight. New tech and apps, in particular, are attracting more and more young people to begin dieting. Child health experts say, however, that starting very conscious dieting this young is not the right way to go.

The Atlantic sat down with WW’s chief science officer, Gary Foster, to find out more about their food-tracking app meant for young users. Kurbo can be downloaded for free, and it green-lights certain foods to help fix and keep track of your diet. Children young as 13 can sign up, and even younger users can also start by signing up with a parent. Foster reassures users that their coaching methods won’t lead to behaviours that will start a bad relationship with food, but child health experts believe otherwise.

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Paediatricians warn against using these apps because they mainly focus on weight goals instead of creating healthy eating habits. Ultimately, the apps measure quantifiable factors like the number on a weighing scale in order to calculate personal goals. This makes children and teens are more likely to be focused on weight loss instead of healthy eating. Overweight kids are already more likely to get depressed or anxious and focusing on their weight will only add to the problem by potentially developing eating disorders.

Instead, parents should make healthier changes to the family’s diet, if they can afford to do so. Avoiding processed foods and high-sugar drinks or desserts is an important dietary change. Kids learn their eating habits from their parents, so everyone in the family should try to adhere to healthier foods. The junk can be eaten sometimes in small amounts as treats, but they shouldn’t be part of the everyday diet. Most parents already know this anyway, and dieting apps simply reinforce this knowledge. There’s no need to get your kids focused on a weight number on their screens.