Chubby Kids...

[arminnie]

I'm not 'down on fat people', what I'm 'down' on is parents who are the cause and supplier of their childs obesity - of which there are currently milions.

As an adult you have a choice (in non medical cases) to be the size you are through the food you eat and exercise you take - its their body, go kill it if you want. But to do it to a CHILD is inexcuseable. Thats my judgemental point of view - purely on the parents who do this to their children.

Anyone who carefully reads the majority of the posts in this thread, including the OP, will see that the discussion is about parents who enable their children's obesity by supplying/preparing a majority of poor nutritional choices.
And, how it can be a form a child "neglect" and how as a society we all bear the financial burden of the pattern.

I cannot tell by looking how a kid got fat or if they have horrible parents who feed them crap. Nor do I go around looking. But that doesn't mean that there are not tens and tens of thousands of kids out there whose parents really are neglecting them at best or abusing them at worst by feeding them total junk. Somebody is buying all of that junk that fills up the stores.

But a true story on a very personal basis. Over thirty years ago a close friend really struggled with her weight - although she was probably never more than 25 pounds overweight - not obese at all.

She used to say that she had to keep cookies, candy, chips, etc. "for the kids". It wouldn't be fair to deprive them. I was always just amazed that her refrigerator was always full of cream cheese, butter, whipped cream, sour cream, etc. She was a good cook and didn't serve preprocessed food - but nothing was remotely healthy.

Her son just turned 40. He is morbidly obese, will not see a doctor, has family members with heart attacks in their 30s, and by her own admission he will probably die long before he reaches 50.

She is eaten up with guilt over not teaching him to have a healthier lifestyle. Granted he is now an adult and is responsible for himself - but she is still suffering. I've known him since he was 2 years old and love him dearly myself. It's very sad.

 

[HeatherC]

Haven't read all the posts, but did want to say to the person/s who said it's not anyones business what people are doing in their own homes. That is complete bull! It is most certainly our business because we as a society wind up footing the bill for all the health issues that arise as a result.

Obesity is an EPIDEMIC in this country...not a tiny problem. We all need to be more proactive in combatting it.

Yes there are a lot of people who have other medical issues that can contribute to being overweight. But in my experience, 99% of the time that is not the case. Overeating all the crap out there is.

 

[Teresa Pitman]

The genetic factor should not be underestimated.

When researchers looked at people who had been adopted at birth, they found NO correlation at all between the BMI of the adopted person and the adoptive parents, but a very strong correlation between the BMI of the adopted child (now grown) and that of his or her birth parents. So, a child of thin parents may have been raised by two obese parents, and he'd still grow up thin. And a child of two obese parents, raised by thin parents, would still grow up to be overweight.

What we have in our society today is a food situation where people are able to reach the maximum of their genetic "capacity." People are taller today than in past generations. Those past generations had the same genetic capacity for height, but because of malnutrition, they weren't as tall as their descendants are today. Of course, some people are still short, even though they have good nutrition -because that's what their genes dictate.

It's the same with weight. Some people have the genetic capacity to be fatter than others, and the genes that drive them to eat more fattening foods (ideal for survival in famines), and now because we have such an abundance of food, they are reaching their genetic maximums. There are plenty of thin people who eat lots of junk food and fast food too.

This is part of the reason why, in every study, more than 95% of the people who lose weight on a diet will gain it back.

The one thing that really seems to be able to change this is intensive exercise. Half an hour three times a week just won't do it for people genetically geared to be fat, though. (Although they will get some health benefits from it - it just won't help them lose weight.) The difficulty is that the same genes that encourage these people's bodies to store fat seem to also make them dislike vigorous exercise. They don't get the same "high" that other people do from running and working out.

Read "Re-thinking Thin." A very interesting book, lots of research. And there are others too.

Teresa

Teresa

 

[Planogirl]

I don't doubt that genetics plays a role in this obesity epidemic. But those genetics were always a factor somewhat and I believe that statistics showing the huge uptick in obesity are accurate. And why do northern Europeans tend to stay lighter? Shouldn't they also have this genetic predisposition?

Many posts on this thread make it sound like it's impossible for people to be in good shape. That may be true for a few but I believe that it is possible for most to lose the weight and get into a decent shape. It may be harder for many than for others but I still believe that it can be done. I include myself in that.

 

[Colleen27]

Although I completely agree with you that there is an epidemic of obese children in this country, there are many children who are chubby who get plenty of exercise and eat healthy. Just like adults, we come in all shapes and sizes. By chubby, I certainly do not mean obese (although the actual BMI calculators may not agree with me). I know several children who are extremely active and eat well but are still 5-10 lbs over their recommended weight.

We have 2 DDs. The are both extremely active. Our oldest eats healthy and is thin. Her actual weight surprises most people b/c she is a competitive athlete with barely an ounce of fat on her body. She weighs much more than a thin child with little muscle would.

Our 2nd DD is an average eater. We make sure she eats a well rounded diet but she is prone to put on weight especially before a growth spurt. She averages a minimum of 1-1.5 hours a day of physical activity. Right now you would call her average weight but over the summer she definitely had a belly. This is just how she is built. Now if she did not get all of this exercise she would be over weight but I surely would not deprive her of food.

In our house we focus on healthy, not thin. If you are eating well and active you are healthy no matter what the scale says.

And that's the best possible thing to teach your DDs! I've had issues with weight all my life. When I was young, I was a competitive swimmer without an ounce of fat on me, working out 2-3 hours per day, 6 days/week. But my weight was over the "normal" range for my height, and I spent most of my teen years trying desperately to lose weight. It wasn't until adulthood and being forced to adjust my thinking because of meds that made me gain weight that I realized that being healthy, strong, and active was far more important than a number on a scale.

 

[cheermom1]

And that's the best possible thing to teach your DDs! I've had issues with weight all my life. When I was young, I was a competitive swimmer without an ounce of fat on me, working out 2-3 hours per day, 6 days/week. But my weight was over the "normal" range for my height, and I spent most of my teen years trying desperately to lose weight. It wasn't until adulthood and being forced to adjust my thinking because of meds that made me gain weight that I realized that being healthy, strong, and active was far more important than a number on a scale.

couldn't agree more

 

[chobie]

I don't doubt that genetics plays a role in this obesity epidemic. But those genetics were always a factor somewhat and I believe that statistics showing the huge uptick in obesity are accurate. And why do northern Europeans tend to stay lighter? Shouldn't they also have this genetic predisposition?

Many posts on this thread make it sound like it's impossible for people to be in good shape. That may be true for a few but I believe that it is possible for most to lose the weight and get into a decent shape. It may be harder for many than for others but I still believe that it can be done. I include myself in that.

Ever been to Europe? They smoke like fiends over there. Just sayin...

 

[Colleen27]

My kids are chubby. Not obese, but chubby. They don't eat junk, I dont keep it in the house, I monitor on line what they buy for lunch at school, and they play a sports year round. I even have my daughter run at least 1 mile 3x's per week.

Just genetic, from their father.

I've got one who is big, both chubby and tall, and two who are tiny. You'd never know to look at them who has the worse eating habits... We all eat a basically healthy diet but DD1 has a sweet tooth like you wouldn't believe. She's the only one who actually eats most of her Halloween and Easter candy, who wants desserts with dinner, likes soda, etc. I don't keep much junk on hand because I know if I do, she'll want it. She's not quite 50bs at 7 years old. DS, on the other hand, loves raw fruit and veggies, doesn't drink anything but water, and is 120lbs and built like a linebacker. He's a bigger eater but makes much better food choices overall and doesn't need the restriction of not keeping junk in the house to keep him on the right track. DD2 is too little to really count, but seems to be taking after DD1 in terms of her weight at well-baby visits and in terms of her appetite.

 

[Colleen27]

I really think that's the issue that most of us are talking about here. Not kids with medical problems, kids with parent problems!

I was in our Publix once behind this woman who was very heavy. Her child (also very heavy) was throwing candy bar after candy bar into the cart and she was putting them on the belt! I would have been putting them right back on the display! The topper of the whole thing was when she said to the cashier: "He just LOVES his Candy!!" Like it was the cutest thing she ever saw in her life.

Honey, it's NOT cute. It's deadly.

I wonder, how many of you are similarly judgmental of a parent with a normal sized or thin child who is buying the same crap? Every time this subject comes up, online or in real life, I think about a particular friend of DS's. The kid comes over and asks for ranch dressing for his burger, for his fries, for his pizza. He doesn't eat any cooked vegetables and only eats raw veggies with ranch dip. He won't drink water or skim milk, only juice, soda or whole milk. But he's about 45 lbs, a little underweight for his height, so no one seems to think anything of it and that is so disturbing to me. Bad eating habits are bad eating habits, regardless of weight.

 

[Colleen27]

And to the other posters who noted that wealthier folks tended to not be overweight - that is definately the case! At the large charity benefits I very rarely see anyone more than a few pounds overweight. And I don't know that I've ever seen anyone really obese in the wealthier parts of town or at functions where most folks have lots of money. What's up with that??

It comes down to two things - money and time. Healthy food is more expensive. I've been on a spinach salad kick lately. A package of baby spinach that makes 4-5 lunches is $7, plus $3 for mushrooms, $3 dollars for tomatoes, $3 for low-fat cheese. A package of hot dogs and a package of white buns is $2 for the same number of meals (assuming 2 hot dogs = 1 meal).

Plus sports are expensive. With both kids playing baseball and taking swim lessons, 1 playing football, 1 cheerleading and dancing, I spend well over $1000/year in sports fees. And it takes a good deal of parental availability to keep kids that active, whether it is playing after school or running around to various sports practices. Not many poor parents have the time and money to facilitate those things; instead their kids are in daycare/latchkey with little time for physical play.

And it takes time to prepare healthy meals. We've all done it - we're in a hurry so we hit the drive through or pick up "instant" food like TV dinners or boxed mac & cheese from the grocery. But when being hurried and not cooking becomes a way of life, as it is for many working families, it leads to weight gain.

 

[teskak]

And my question for the chubby kids debate

Why is chocolate milk considered to be the equivalent of regular milk, as in "my kids won't drink white milk so they have brown milk" ummm what about the sugar?

And yes I cringe when I see parents pouring chocolate milk, fizzy drinks - especially coke into a kid's baby bottle so they can nibble on it all day. There is nothing about convenience or cost in that decision.

Advice I got before I had my daughter from a mum of 3 who had the last 2 while nursing her oldest through 11 years of leukaemia as a single mum - "there are no fussy eaters, just kids who are not hungry enough yet".
Unless my little one is sick, that is one to live by

 

[ThreeMusketeers]

I wonder, how many of you are similarly judgmental of a parent with a normal sized or thin child who is buying the same crap? Every time this subject comes up, online or in real life, I think about a particular friend of DS's. The kid comes over and asks for ranch dressing for his burger, for his fries, for his pizza. He doesn't eat any cooked vegetables and only eats raw veggies with ranch dip. He won't drink water or skim milk, only juice, soda or whole milk. But he's about 45 lbs, a little underweight for his height, so no one seems to think anything of it and that is so disturbing to me. Bad eating habits are bad eating habits, regardless of weight.

I AGREE!

 

[ThreeMusketeers]

According to the BMI tables, most athletes would be considered overweight or obese, even if they have very low % of badyfat. I think BMI is another useless generalization.

A LOT Of major athletes and body builders end up dying of heart attacks or have sleep apnea b/c their bodies are not meant to hold that much weight and eventually... it takes it's toll.

BUT,

If as an adult..you CHOOSE to do that to your body. That is what YOU CHOOSE.

But I don't think that an adult should be making an unhealthy choice after unhealthy choice for a child that will have no choice but grow up and reap those reprocusions. (sp)

 

[Colleen27]

A LOT Of major athletes and body builders end up dying of heart attacks or have sleep apnea b/c their bodies are not meant to hold that much weight and eventually... it takes it's toll.

BUT,

If as an adult..you CHOOSE to do that to your body. That is what YOU CHOOSE.

But I don't think that an adult should be making an unhealthy choice after unhealthy choice for a child that will have no choice but grow up and reap those reprocusions. (sp)

It isn't just huge athletes who run up against problems with the BMI scale, though, and any doctor will tell you they aren't applicable for many athletic people. My DH isn't huge by any standard (he's not a weightlifter or anything like that, just a builder who rollerblades a lot) but he is very fit/active. He was a wrestler and a runner in school and works a physically demanding profession now. According to his last physical, he has about 10% body fat (a little more than half the average for men), but by his BMI he is significantly overweight and at risk for obesity. BMI is a valid and valuable tool for the average person, but it does have its shortcomings and it certainly isn't the be-all, end-all determinate of a healthy weight for everyone.

 

[MemoryMakers2669]

Ever been to Europe? They smoke like fiends over there. Just sayin...

Why do Europeans keep being brought up? I see Asians as being tiny people. I don't however see Middle Easterns (is that the correct term) being on the small side. Not talking about weight so much, but they all seem to be good sturdy people! Speaking genetics here.

 

[MemoryMakers2669]

I wonder, how many of you are similarly judgmental of a parent with a normal sized or thin child who is buying the same crap? Every time this subject comes up, online or in real life, I think about a particular friend of DS's. The kid comes over and asks for ranch dressing for his burger, for his fries, for his pizza. He doesn't eat any cooked vegetables and only eats raw veggies with ranch dip. He won't drink water or skim milk, only juice, soda or whole milk. But he's about 45 lbs, a little underweight for his height, so no one seems to think anything of it and that is so disturbing to me. Bad eating habits are bad eating habits, regardless of weight.

I am! To me that is what it is all about. Tonight at a function I was at, I was doign the childcare. There is a family there, know them well. They are thin people and yes, I mean thin...not my ignorant view of what I think is thin. Their kids are also thin, no chub on them at all. However, those kids diets are 100% junk!!! In a two hour period, they ate NOTHING but a few cheetos and one had a good 40..yes FORTY ounces of Capri Sun!...NOT juice, but that crap drink. I see them a lot and that is all they do, drink juice and tons of it and cookies, snacks, chips, etc.

The parents do complain about this, but do nothing about it. If they are offered only healthy stuff, they will eat only healthy stuff. Sadly, this has to start from day one and it is a bad cycle to break!

 

[SamRoc]

My girlfriend used to only give her babies chocolate milk saying they wouldnt have regular milk. They never really had the chance to make their own decision if they liked it or not. And my nephews wife always adds sugar to her daughters glass of milk (shes from Brazil) she said milk doesnt taste sweet enough. All 3 of these kids have a weight problem.

 

[PaulaSB12]

Ever been to Europe? They smoke like fiends over there. Just sayin...

I am european and I have never been a smoker neither has anyone in my immediate family. I am overweight and have started to try and rectify that but in the last 2 jobs (current one 8 years last one 5) I have taken exactly 0 days of sick. The only reason I go to my doctors is for the usual health checks so have needed no medical intervention for the last 22 years (I had a road accident 22 years ago and had a night in hospital for concussion) why punish a healthy person because they might have problems? There is a woman at work who is constantly on the sick but is "healthy " weight may be light but she aint healthy.

 

[mkingdomlvr]

Haven't read all the posts, but did want to say to the person/s who said it's not anyones business what people are doing in their own homes. That is complete bull! It is most certainly our business because we as a society wind up footing the bill for all the health issues that arise as a result.

Obesity is an EPIDEMIC in this country...not a tiny problem. We all need to be more proactive in combatting it.

Yes there are a lot of people who have other medical issues that can contribute to being overweight. But in my experience, 99% of the time that is not the case. Overeating all the crap out there is.

If you track the rise in health care costs on the same graph with the rise in America's weight....I would bet my next dessert that the link would be completely obvious.

and for how "expensive" healthy food is-I found an article that gives 20 foods that costs $1. It's from an advice website called DivineCaroline.

1. Oats: High in fiber and good for cholesterol. A dollar buys you a week’s worth of breakfast or keeps you well-supplied in oatmeal cookies.

2. Eggs: Costing about a dollar for a half-dozen, these are one of the cheapest sources of protein, says DivineCaroline. The site suggests huevos rancheros, egg salad sandwiches and frittatas.

3. Kale: At about a dollar a bunch, this is one of the cheapest greens you’ll find in the supermarket. Toss into a stir-fry or check out recipes for German-style kale or traditional Irish colcannon.

4. Potatoes: Stay away from fries and chips, and eat them skin and all as a good source of vitamin C and potassium. Choose sweet potatoes or yams for an added serving of beta carotene. Here’s a recipe for easy breakfast potatoes that uses just 2 tablespoons of olive oil.

5. Apples: Tasty, cheap and filling, apples are a fun way to dress up a meal, either cooked or turned into applesauce.

6. Nuts: Some nuts like pecans and macadamias cost more, but peanuts, walnuts and almonds, particularly when bought in the shell, won’t break your budget. Eat them plain or sprinkle in salads. Nuts aren’t as fattening as you might think. Read more in Going Nuts for the Holidays.

7. Bananas: Shop around for deals; DivineCaroline found them for 19 cents apiece at Trader Joe’s. A dollar gets you a banana a day for the workweek, and they are great in smoothies, cereal and with yogurt.

8. Garbanzo Beans: Also known as chickpeas, garbanzos are cheapeast in dry form, but even precooked beans will still only cost about a dollar. If you don’t like garbanzos, any bean will do. Check out DivineCaroline’s recipe for orange hummus.

9. Broccoli: Easy to make and cheap, broccoli is a no-brainer for any budget meal.

10. Watermelon: The whole melon costs more than a dollar, but the per-serving cost is only about 20 cents, the site says.

11. Wild Rice: About the same as white rice, but better for you with a nutty flavor.

12. Beets: Roasted in the oven or shred into salads, beets are packed with nutrients. For extra value, buy them with greens on for stir fry or to toss in a salad. Beets have been a popular topic on Well. Check out Pass the Beets, Again for several recipes that take beets beyond the can.

13. Butternut Squash: In season, the butternut squash costs less than a dollar a pound. It can be tough to cut up, but it’s hearty and easy to bake or prepare as a soup. Check out DivineCaroline’s pear and squash bruschetta.

14. Whole Grain Pasta: A cheap staple, but pick the whole grain variety for added nutritional punch.

15. Sardines: A little fish so low on the food chain it doesn’t accumulate mercury and packs tons of nutrition. Mash them with parsley, lemon juice and olive oil for a spread or toss into salads or on pizza.

16. Spinach: Cheap year-round, packed with nutrition and great in salads or a spinach frittata.

17. Tofu: An inexpensive protein source. Add to smoothies for a protein boost, suggests DivineCaroline.

18. Milk: Per serving, milk and many milk products like yogurt are still under a dollar.

19. Pumpkin Seeds: Not the most practical item on the list because most of us aren’t carving pumpkins every day and they are expensive to buy on their own. Still, they are great on salads and as a snack, so it’s always worth saving pumpkin seeds when you have a pumpkin.

20. Coffee: Skip the Starbucks and make it at home, where it’s just 50 cents a cup. Plus, there’s plenty of evidence that it’s good for you.

 

[luvmy3]

I am! To me that is what it is all about. Tonight at a function I was at, I was doign the childcare. There is a family there, know them well. They are thin people and yes, I mean thin...not my ignorant view of what I think is thin. Their kids are also thin, no chub on them at all. However, those kids diets are 100% junk!!! In a two hour period, they ate NOTHING but a few cheetos and one had a good 40..yes FORTY ounces of Capri Sun!...NOT juice, but that crap drink. I see them a lot and that is all they do, drink juice and tons of it and cookies, snacks, chips, etc.

The parents do complain about this, but do nothing about it. If they are offered only healthy stuff, they will eat only healthy stuff. Sadly, this has to start from day one and it is a bad cycle to break!

I know you said that you know the family so you probably do know what their diet consists of on a regular basis. For me, I don't think its fair to make assumptions about what any kids (big or thin) eats at a 2 hour function. My kids are thin, and although we are not health food nuts, I do make them eat healthy foods. We always have fresh fruit, cheese sticks and yogurt for snacks, veggies with every meal, milk with meals, no soda at all. I do have snacks and goodies in the house that aren't the best but they are limited. When we go to a function I'm pretty lax about what I let them eat. One night of eating a bunch of capri suns and junk food isn't going to hurt them. If its an everyday, all the time thing thats a different story, and to me it doesn't matter if they are overweight or not. So yes, I would be judgemental of thin kids eating crap too