I'm going to preface this by saying I'm only venting and don't mean to come across as overly harsh.
My daughter's friend (she is) is on her cheerleading squad, and the friend's mom has a son who is 9 and plays football. Both kids are seriously overweight/obese. Friend's mom tells me today she took him to the dr. to get a physical before playing sports and his cholesterol came back 260. The kid has asthma as well.
Seriously, am I the only one who gets a bit annoyed with parents about things like this?? I mean, I know, some people don't understand or know any better, some kids have medical problems etc. But this truly drives me crazy- parents are in control of what their kids eat, and to do this to their kids- cause health problems because they can't figure out not to feed their kids crap and to get them out from in front of the TV... I just find it completely unacceptable. Its all very easily preventable.
I don't mean to come off as insensitive, and my reaction was supportive and I was respectful and tactful and suggested some things that might help (reducing fat, reducing packaged foods, more veggies/fruits, less sugar, and more exercise), but seriously on the inside I was really annoyed.
McDonalds says their apples have calcium ascorbate as a preservative - not so bad. When we're travelling or out in a rush, a kid's meal with four chicken mcnuggets, apple slices - even with that caramel dip - and milk - I have been grateful to McDs - about four times a year.
Now if only their salad dishes didn't taste like they have well over a thousand grams of sodium, my hypertension and I could eat healthy there too.
Why do they always give me two BIG salad dressing packets - do people compain if they have only 44 g. of salad dressing?
There are a wide variety of views and ideas on this thread and I felt that I had to throw my two cents in as well. I have five kids, three of whom look like they have been starved, literally skin and bones. These three eat more than you could imagine, I was the same as a kid.
Same with my kids, especially my 9 year old boy. He'll put down 6 or 7 bean tacos (just beans and shell, at home) then a whole container of strawberries if we let him. He's constantly in motion, unless he's sick. My 7 and 8 year old girls LOVE to eat healthy food, as long as it's not "Mom's vegetarian bean and kale soup... again". :rotfl::lghmky::dncgbby:
I agree as a pre-nursing student. I think it is simply ignorance on the part of a lot of people. Parents' and kids' learning more and more about good nutrition, I believe, would need to come from several "channels" and continuously. Channels like TV, school, celebrity/athletic role models, healcare facilities/staff, etc. Not just a message stating this is bad for you but learning how too much sugar can affect the body resulting in poor health, tie in the common healthcare costs as a result of it, then giving a resolution. This information is out there but apparently, it doesn't appear to be effective as seen in the obesity rates, continuation of fast food diets, etc. For some reason, cigarette smoking has decreased due to enough messages coming at us, so wouldn't campaigning in the same manner for better nutrition cause positive results? Good topic.
Specializes in primary care, holistic health, integrated medicine.
Ok, OK, I'll chime in from the other side. I have a 12 y/o ds that is "technically" overweight. He is 5'4" and 140lbs. Our ped is very obese, lol, and has not mentioned it.
I will get off the soapbox now, and let someone else take a turn, just wanted to give a perspective from a Mom of an "overweight" kid.
ETA: the reason I keep putting "overweight" in " " is b/c it is kind of up to which theory you go with if he really is "overweight".
Hey, Just FYI - your kid is NOT overweight. Even for an adult, at that height and weight the BMI would be 24. But a kid at this age is growing like a weed, and has not developed the muscle mass he will have in the future. He may be of a "stocky" stature, as well. Please, don't worry about him at this point. Plus, he's making "good choices". That's freaking amazing for a kid his age, if you ask me.
I actually changed pediatricians because I got tired of hearing my children were in the 99th percentile! "
I had to do the same thing. Was told my son was overweight because he was 5 and weighed what an average 8 year old did, However, his height was average for a nine year old. He was not overweight just big & tall. BTW he is my little health food junkie, when I want McD's he wants sushi or salad. Drives me nuts:rolleyes:. I am the junk foodie in our house and have only managed to top 100lbs when pregnant. Everyone else is a health foodie not eating processed/fried/junk food if they can avoid it and are much bigger than I ever will be. Most folks would see me & think I diet or exercise, but nothing could be further than the truth. Size is not always determined by choices.
Specializes in SICU, NICU, Telephone Triage, Management.
My pediatrician told me a few years ago that he was seeing an epidemic of adult onset diabetes in young children secondary to obesity. This is a real shame. When I drive around practically every corner has a fast food joint with a drive thru. Food dripping in fat and preservatives plus a disastrous public education system does not bode well for the future.
Specializes in Infusion Nursing, Home Health Infusion.
I can not even begin to tell you how many arguments and fights and downright disagreements I have had with my 11 year old daughter about food. If it were not for me I swear she would weigh 300 lbs, She is very educated for her age on nutrition and calorie counts and food selection. She often uses the information I have given her as ammunition for whatever "food case " she is arguing. Thank God I have her trained to check with me before any food selection choices when I am with her. When I am not with her I have to use alternate strategies to make certain she is not overeating. I am not talking just junk food either. My efforts have paid off although I would like it if she were 10 lbs lighter. I do not know if other parent struggle with this,but I can tell you it has been a struggle for me.
Specializes in Retired OR nurse/Tissue bank technician.
Ok, OK, I'll chime in from the other side. I have a 12 y/o ds that is "technically" overweight. He is 5'4" and 140lbs. Our ped is very obese, lol, and has not mentioned it. My son could give lessons in healthy eating/living, and mostly follows a pretty strict (self-inflicted) diet. No sodas, high cal foods, junk food, etc. He reads labels, knows all about calories/carbs/protein/fat grams. He exercises much more frequently than my 10 y/o ds, that is skinny as a twig.
I was the same way. I ate reasonably well (the odd treat), exercised (gym class, plus bike riding, plus badminton and other physically active games) and I kept gaining weight. We asked my cousin, who was a diabetes specialist, to suggest an eating plan to help stop the weight gain but was still healthy and interesting. Tried that-gained weight. *sighs* Some of it was an endocrine disorder, but we're not sure what the rest of it was.
It wasn't until I wound up dangerously depressed that I dropped 30lb in seven weeks-but I was also subsisting on about 300-500 calories a day, tops. That weight and more came back when they made me eat again-and even more as they added on psych medications.
Years later, with no change in eating/exercise habits, I gained close to 100lb with the addition of one med and dose changes with another. I've lost about 50 of that, but I've got that other 50, plus a bit more to go. *sighs*
IMO... get your kids focused on LIFE and find out what interests THEM and stay involved.
I just read through every single post of this 7 page thread. And this is the thing that jumped out at me the most. I think this truly is the most important piece. Offering healthy choices, being a good role model, practicing moderation...all vital, but often in vain if food becomes the sole focus. Live and love life, find what you love, enjoy these things...I think that's key for everyone--kids or adults. Food should be something that gives you energy to enjoy everything else in life. :)
I think so many people (and their kids) are obese because we are all so cramped for time. Parents work, kids are overworked (school, homework, sports, etc.). It is so much easier to throw a hot pocket in than microwave than it is to spend an hour preparing a meal.
Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.
I can not even begin to tell you how many arguments and fights and downright disagreements I have had with my 11 year old daughter about food. If it were not for me I swear she would weigh 300 lbs, She is very educated for her age on nutrition and calorie counts and food selection. She often uses the information I have given her as ammunition for whatever "food case " she is arguing. Thank God I have her trained to check with me before any food selection choices when I am with her. When I am not with her I have to use alternate strategies to make certain she is not overeating. I am not talking just junk food either. My efforts have paid off although I would like it if she were 10 lbs lighter. I do not know if other parent struggle with this,but I can tell you it has been a struggle for me.
Please, please, PLEASE---if you do not want your daughter to weigh 300 lbs someday, you MUST let go of the need to control every bite she puts in her mouth!!
I speak from experience: My mother, who was part of the "diet culture" of the sixties, obsessed over my size and weight long before I ever had a weight problem, which led to MY becoming obsessed as well. I was always a big, if not gluttonous eater, but as a child and teenager I was naturally curvy and athletic, and I burned off everything I ate. But she was so fearful that I'd get fat that she almost literally drove me to the refrigerator with her constant nagging and criticizing........and "If I weren't watching you, you'd weigh _____ pounds". I was a size 7 and she wanted me to be a 5. When she wasn't with me, she'd have somebody 'spy' on me to make sure I wasn't overeating, which of course I did every chance I got, because I liked food and was obsessed with what I couldn't have.
So I never learned how to listen to my body, how to choose foods and eat what I wanted in moderate amounts. From my mother's approach, I learned only to eat everything in sight because I might not get another chance at it.....and as a result, I wound up weighing OVER 300 lbs. And that was AFTER I'd spent some quality time as a practicing bulimic in my late teens, after 500 diets and countless attempts to control my appetite.
Yes, I feared for my own kids too---but I decided I'd rather see them heavy than develop my unhealthy attitude towards food. Within reason, I allowed them to choose foods and indulge in "treat" foods; I didn't obsess about the numbers on the scale, and I have NEVER nagged or criticized..........thankfully, only my eldest ended up obese, and I'm pretty sure much of that is due to having two babies in quick succession and eating so much refined white pasta and bread at home because they are cheap.
Sorry if my advice is so blunt, but if it can help save you---and especially your daughter---from making an enormous mistake that can affect her the rest of her days, please accept it in the manner in which it was meant. We cannot micromanage our daughters in this fashion and expect them to grow up with a healthy attitude toward their bodies. It just doesn't work out that way. I'm living proof.
I, too, have children of different sizes. One was always "solid" as a infant/toddler. Unfortunately an emotional stressor occurred when that child was ~5 years old. Over one summer 30 pounds was gained. The pediatrician's comment "Don't let them have third helpings of food." We weren't even letting the child eat seconds! I couldn't believe it.
Children need stable lives, where a mix of; healthy eating habits, mental well being, exercise, routines, and relaxation are incorporated.
Never underestimate the power of a stable home life. That's where a lot of children fall through the system.
birdgardner
333 Posts
McDonalds says their apples have calcium ascorbate as a preservative - not so bad. When we're travelling or out in a rush, a kid's meal with four chicken mcnuggets, apple slices - even with that caramel dip - and milk - I have been grateful to McDs - about four times a year.
Now if only their salad dishes didn't taste like they have well over a thousand grams of sodium, my hypertension and I could eat healthy there too.
Why do they always give me two BIG salad dressing packets - do people compain if they have only 44 g. of salad dressing?