Posted
by Bethany Jones
June 10, 2008 at 3:02 p.m.
Parenting & Obesity
I've been a parent for about a year and a half now (longer, if we're counting that entire gestation-thing), so I'm well versed in the decisions parents have to make for their kids. Even before our children are born we're bombarded with choices to make: do I have an epidural? Do I vaccinate my child? Do I circumcise? But then, the questions get a little different: do I let my child go play at the neighbor's house while I'm not there? Do I let him walk to school alone? Do I let him see a movie without me? This week, the Washington Post is reminding parents of today's generation that we have a new question facing us: do I allow my child to become obese? [What should parents do?][1] Wang doesn't advocate eliminating sugary drinks but being educated about their role. "Be aware there are a lot of calories [in the beverages], and kids need to exercise a lot to burn it off," she said. This article itself was disappointing, because it basically concludes that it's okay to feed your children junk, as long as they take a nice run afterwards.This isn't just a problem that American parents are dealing with, either. A little girl in the UK made the news today because she basically eats only french fries: [Nutritionist Jeanette Jackson said: 'This really is very bad, this poor child.][2] 'She is only 18 months and already she is chronically obese. The foods she is being given lack vitamins and minerals. Her development will be delayed and, if it continues, there is high risk of her getting a chronic illness.'So what's a parent to do?How about start BEING a parent?Maybe I'm still new at this whole motherhood thing, but if you don't want your child to eat crap and become overweight, shouldn't you just not give them bad food? Who's the adult here?I understand being scared that your child will get hungry and refuse to eat "healthy" food, but if he gets hungry, offer an apple or a carrot anyway. It's awfully difficult for a one year old to only eat french fries if he's not being offered them as an alternative to fruit. I'm sure a lot of people don't feel that obese children should be blamed on the parents, but who's the one buying the food in the first place? Surely a toddler isn't walking into McDonald's alone to order their meal? [1]: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/02/AR2008060201167.html [2]: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1025023/Obese-just-18-months-little-girl-raised-diet-chips.html
Comments
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megajoe (anonymous) says…
A little girl that young drinks coke!?? An 18-month year old child consuming a gut-rotting, bone-destroying, liquid containing a super-addictive drug that will stunt her growth? I would call her diet child abuse.
alm77 (anonymous) says…
My neighbor and I were talking about this yesterday. I didn't let my oldest have pop until she was like 7 or something. But now I've got that third kid, I'm wearing down a bit. He's 3 and he gets the occasional caffeine free 25 cent soda pop from Checkers. I give my kids a quarter (okay, a bribe for good behavior) on our weekly grocery shopping and sometimes they put it in the gum ball machine and sometimes they buy a Shasta. But other than that, pop is the elusive holy grail of candy and my kids will probably buy it by the truck loads when they are finally out from under their "oppressive parents!".
measles (anonymous) says…
Welcome to the world of counter-culture motherhood. As a single mom (and loving it) for almost nine years now, I have learned to choose my battles wisely, and one that I am ever vigilant about is the battle to take back the role of parenting from society. TV commercials, Indiana Jones Happy Meal toys, and articfical hot pink food dye should not be shaping our children's attitudes towards food--parents should.It sounds like your child is young enough to be taught a postive attidtude about healthy food. Do this now, and the number of future arguments you will have with your child in the soda pop aisle at Dillon's will dramatically decrease. I will admit that I, like many parents, do cave into convenience from time to time, but the last time I was in the Burger King drive-thru and my child requested applesauce over french fries because he was "trying to cut back on fast food for a while," I felt as if I had done something right.
alm77 (anonymous) says…
measles, I'm with you on that one. My 3 year old LOVES the oranges from Wendy's and picks those every time. Milk, too. And some of you may disagree with this, but I flat out tell my kids that junk food will make them fat. I don't want them to be obsessed with body image by any means, but they see what shape their grandparents are in (morbid obesity on both sides) and I want to keep that in the forefront of the mind when they make food choices. Also, I got to thinking about what my kids do drink and the answer: 1/2 a gal of apple juice a week and the rest is mostly water. Our family of 5 only drinks 1-2 gallons of milk in a week. I tried giving the kids Kool-aid when they were younger but their dad nipped that in the bud. Not for nutritional reasons as much as his hatred of the white trash Kool-aid 'stache.
BadEnglishMajor (Bethany Jones) says…
"I tried giving the kids Kool-aid when they were younger but their dad nipped that in the bud. Not for nutritional reasons as much as his hatred of the white trash Kool-aid 'stache."Aww, but it's so adorable.My parents let us have one soda every week when I was growing up. Saturday was pop day and we looked forward to the weekend with great anticipation.
liz (Liz Weslander) says…
We've always been health conscious with our girls' diet. We made their baby food, limited the candy, juice, and processed food, they didn't have pop until they were probably five, etc., etc. I do think all this has paid off in a lot of ways. They make as healthy as possible choices at the school cafeteria, they will eat a decent variety of foods, and Subway is their favorite fast food joint. That said, I still find that encouraging healthy eating, especially in girls (and especially as they get older), is very tricky. Although food and weight has never been my particular area of neurosis, guilt/control/shame issues associated with food are everywhere, and I think that we as parents can sometimes accidentally cross the line into those areas in the name of trying to promote healthy eating. I'm still figuring things out, but I am not a fan of the "FAT is the enemy" approach. Lately, the emphasis around here has been on activity, balance, and that the occasional binge of root beer and cookies is no reason to beat yourself up.
alm77 (anonymous) says…
liz!! Where've you been?? Yes, I find myself in that same area when it comes to body image. I always try not to run myself down or get caught sneering at my "love handles" when the kids are around. My kids are constantly outside and aren't in any way in danger of being obese, but I want to keep it that way. I use a factual approach to every other area of parenting, so it does fit into my parental logic to point out that junk food makes you fat. But at the same time, my kids relate fat to unhealthy and not fat to unattractive. So far, so good.
weegee (anonymous) says…
As a teacher, I can tell you that it is not only about what kids EAT but about what they DO. I am astounded by how little time kids spend being active. I try to take my students for walks whenever the weather permits, and some of them act as if walking a few blocks is killing them. I've never heard such whining! I wasn't the most athletic child in the world, but I loved being outside, playing games, riding bikes, and such.
alm77 (anonymous) says…
My kids saw that "Play Outside an Hour A Day" campaign ad and they were like "What? An hour?" and I had to let them know, "They mean *at least* an hour." And they were like "whew! We play outside way more than that!" Then when they saw it again with their dad, they wanted to make sure he knew and they said "Dad, that means *at least* an hour. We can play more if we want." He looked at me like "what was that about?" it was really funny.
ladylaw (Terry Bush) says…
All you young people/parents makes me laugh.30 years ago, I was a lot like you.Raising my only child (which my mother (of 5) told me meant I was not really a parent - you need at least 2 to qualify apparently), I made his baby food from scratch, nursed him till he was weaned (never giving him a bottle or forumla, not once), as much fresh food as possible, NO pop or kool-aid, never gave him candy or sweets, never ever got fast food for him, only letting him watch limited TV while a toddler (Sesame street was about it back then), etc. AND as soon as he was 18 and out of my house (onto college) he began his diet of Mountain Dew (not good for the teeth by the way) and fast food. And he survived. He's not obese and he is a now gourmet cook. But for awhile, he broke all my health rules, including dietary ones! My point?I'm not sure. Except that no matter how much we love, protect, guide and teach a child/person, at some point they usually do just the opposite for awhile. So be ready. That does not mean you should throw up your hands and give into every tantrum begging for things you don't want them to have/do. I am not a bit sorry I was such a food Nazi with him - and he was not finicky (at 7 he ate all the oysters the Lobster Pot wait staff could shuck). Parents get to be the boss, and should therefore act like the boss. Kids need parents to set boundaries, not be their best friends. But in between being the boss, keep in mind that this little person will all too soon be a big person, picking out their own food. Have fun!