Take Action
Dr. Julie Wei encourages you to share what you and your family are learning to
inspire and empower others with the tools to make healthy diet and lifestyle changes.
The following conversation guides will help get you started:
Most adults developed their eating habits from their parents and how they were raised, and are most likely to raise their children the same. What are the diet and lifestyles like of other caregivers and their kids?
Schools and teachers have the opportunity and responsibility to positively or negatively influence our children. How does your child's school contribute to providing healthy food options for kids?
As a parent, it's our job to be our child's best advocate. A competent, confident doctor appreciates a knowledgeable parent who communicates his or her concerns appropriately and effectively.
Take a moment and imagine:
- Every visit with a doctor or health care provider included an assessment of diet and dietary habits.
- School enrollment forms included a child's diet and dietary habits, including their daily intake of milk, juice and water, as well as what they eat.
- Parents, caregivers, teachers and doctors discussed how to achieve optimal dietary habits for children at home and at school.
- Industry, government and public policies supported healthier diets and regulated sugar exposure.
What could be possible as a result?
When I went into medicine, I did it for all the right reasons. I was hopeful and full of a sense of purpose. I wanted to help children be well. I'm still practicing medicine for all the right reasons. It's just that now I know more about what's "right" and that has made all the difference in treating my patients. Like my Taiwanese mother and grandmother before her, my starting point is "what goes in the mouth comes out in the health." I have learned that the right thing isn't always a medical "fix" for a problem, but a diet and lifestyle change. There are many natural, integrative approaches that are more effective and less complicated than drugs and surgeries. They aren't always the solution, but non-medical interventions should always be considered.
Doing the right thing can change the future of medicine. It will shift our focus from "patient-centered care" to "family-centered care." This means that physicians must incorporate patients and caretakers into the diagnosis and treatment plan. The emphasis will be on using information about the child's eating habits, living habits, nutritional status and overall health status. When it comes to living A Healthier Wei, those who care for children are the ones with the obligation to ensure that children have an opportunity to experience these healthy habits. In order to create a better future for an entire generation of children already facing an obesity epidemic in a strained health care system, you have to BELIEVE that change is possible. This is the kind of change that can create a healthier future for your child, and it can start in your home and community today.