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A parent can't "discipline" a child into eating right and exercising. In fact, it would be counter-productive to strictly supervise everything a child eats and to force him or her to exercise because they are going to have to make those decisions for themselves the rest of their lives. The best thing a parent can do is limit the amount of junk food available, set a good example when it comes to diet and exercise and keep the lines of communication open.
And make sure they know you love them, just the way they are, every single day.
You can talk to any teenager or adult out there with an eating disorder and I bet 95% of them will tell you that mealtimes were torture and their parents nagged them constantly about their weight.
This is well-meaning, but simplistic. There's also a good chance that Sue will resent her diet and appearance being micro-mananged while her brother is free to eat and do whatever he wants, and she'll develop an eating disorder or poor body image as a result.
And again, this will also have nothing to do with genetics.
My point, is that genetics do not -determine the outcome- of fat vs. not fat. They trigger the *capacity* to become fat. Behavior determines the *actuality* of it.
And again, this will also have nothing to do with genetics.
My point, is that genetics do not -determine the outcome- of fat vs. not fat. They trigger the *capacity* to become fat. Behavior determines the *actuality* of it.
This is true because if everyone had infinite will power nobody would be fat.
The point is some people do not require as much will power (if any) to remain thin.
Nobody is saying that it is impossible to be thin.
Before I had children I was an expert on childraising--I knew so much more than all those "idiots" that were struggling with their spoiled little brats. Now I have my own and I work with special ed kids and know better than to lambaste people for stuff when I have no idea what I'm talking about and I certainly don't talk down to them. I also know that you can lead a horse to water. . .
A parent can't "discipline" a child into eating right and exercising. In fact, it would be counter-productive to strictly supervise everything a child eats and to force him or her to exercise because they are going to have to make those decisions for themselves the rest of their lives. The best thing a parent can do is limit the amount of junk food available, set a good example when it comes to diet and exercise and keep the lines of communication open.
And make sure they know you love them, just the way they are, every single day.
You can talk to any teenager or adult out there with an eating disorder and I bet 95% of them will tell you that mealtimes were torture and their parents nagged them constantly about their weight.
It probably wouldn't do much good anyway. I used to go over to my girlfriend's house to get my fill of junk food. Most kids are out and about where eating opportunities are a constant.
I know that one of the reasons I was so skinny in my teen years is because I lived on a farm that was 20 miles from the nearest town. I didn't go to a fast-food restaurant until I had my own car in my Senior year of high school (1968)!
And, being raised on a farm, I also got plenty of exercise!
The word I was trying to think of is "Special Needs" that gs is.
The other day I got a book from the library entitled What's Eating Your Child? : the hidden connections between food and childhood ailments: anxiety, recurrent ear infections, stomach aches, picky eating, rashes, ADHD, and more. And what evey Parent can do about it. I thought she would have some advice for us, but here is what she said about childhood obesity:
Quote:
I have concluded that obesity is not a nutritional problem but a cultural one. Our entire culture conspires against weight loss, and this thorny issue will not be solved by nutritionists. For this reason, you will not find a chapter in this book on childhood obesity. Our wonderful intellectual solutions don't work at all.
I think I know what she means. I went totally off sugar for several years but there was a lot of pressure for me to go back on--from people bringing me birthday cakes and being upset that I didn't eat any to one man asking me when I was going to get off that "crazy diet." Yeah, I finally gave in and haven't been able to get off for very long since.
"I have concluded that obesity is not a nutritional problem but a cultural one. Our entire culture conspires against weight loss, and this thorny issue will not be solved by nutritionists. For this reason, you will not find a chapter in this book on childhood obesity. Our wonderful intellectual solutions don't work at all. "
Our culture also seems conspires against weight gain. Pressure to be thin. Marketing to lose weight. Billions and billions spent on weight loss efforts.
Our culture also seems conspires against weight gain. Pressure to be thin. Marketing to lose weight. Billions and billions spent on weight loss efforts.
Yes, whether it's a child or an adult, American doesn't like seeing heavy people! Of course, coming from my previous medical experience, heaviness-to obesity doesn't alway come from and eating problem or lack of exercise........prescription meds can have a lot to do with weight gain. I know that gs is on medications for his "special needs", because dd told me that they are costly. I also know that a thyroid problem can also cause weight gain.
If the child is eating right and getting exercise, a weight problem could very well be from meds being taken and/or a thyriod problem. The family knows this, but American doesn't and will automatically come to the conclusion that the child is over eating, eating the wrong stuff and not getting enough exercise.
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Now I have my own and I work with special ed kids and know better than to lambaste people for stuff when I have no idea what I'm talking about and I certainly don't talk down to them. I also know that you can lead a horse to water. . .
