The concept of "Do No Harm" is important to continually stress with parents, educators, health professionals and the media when addressing childhood overweight and obesity.  Harm can result when children or teens receive the message that their personal worth is related to their body size. Labeling children as obese and placing children on weight loss diets has the potential for harm. Extreme care should be taken to preserve self esteem and prevent negative outcomes such as depression, disordered eating, and even malnutrition. These "Do No Harm" concepts are consistent with the philosophy of the Children and Weight Coalition. 

• We recognize each child as a unique individual and each family as a unique group of individuals.
• We celebrate differences in body size and shape among children and adults.
• We view all bodies as good bodies. There is no such thing as a bad body.
• We respect the bodies of others even though they might be different from our own. We encourage children to demonstrate respect for the bodies of others.
• We believe that approaches to decreasing pediatric obesity must be based on sound scientific research, as well as the guiding principle of “do no harm”.
• We believe that the best way to decrease obesity is to create environments that promote healthy lifestyles.
• We promote body satisfaction, self-esteem, and a positive body image for children and adults.
• We believe that the vast majority of parents love their children and are committed to fostering their health and welfare.
• We know that our children are our future; we are strongly committed to caring for them and creating a world in which they can thrive.