WTH Plus size clothes for kids!?! vent

[ducklite]

Anne, I don't think anyone is refuting the fact that there are people who have special circumstances. But there aren't SO many of them that the marketers have decided to expand their clothing lines. Your son's case is the exception, not the norm--and yes, it would be a shame that he would be judged poorly because of his condition. It still doesn't explain the childhood obesity epidemic. They aren't all on medication. When my son was 6, he had a terrible asthma attack and was hospitalized for a week. He was put on high doses of prednisone for that week and then took it for the next two months. His face ended up looking like a "moonface" and none of his clothes fit. A few people (my friends) remarked to me that he had picked up some weight. I knew it was the medication and wasn't bothered by it all. When the medication was stopped, he lost the weight in a few months. These are all isolated incidents that don't drive the clothing market.

And I agree with you. My problem is that Disneyrsh made a broad, all encompassing, derrogatory, judgemental statement about anyone who is overweight. Glad your son is feeling better.

ANne

 

[ducklite]

Oh, God, for crying out loud. Medication will of course affect your body, in ways that are not even fully understood yet. We're just discovering the damage good ol' Tylenol can do to us, and that's been around for years.

There are of course exceptions, there are to any rule, as any sane person understands. But for the vast, vast, vast majority of overweight people it is the fact that they just eat too much and they don't get enough exercise. There are of COURSE medical exceptions like your son, but he's a vanishingly small minority, and therefore shouldn't be included in a discussion regarding diet/exercise-related obesity.

Then use opf the word "most" or "generally" would have been appropriate in your all encompassing statement. I think you owe more than a few people an apology. I am quite sane, thank you, and felt your comments were unreasonably arrogant, unjusitfiable, and spiteful by not exclusing certain groups of people who truly have medical conditions that cause excessive weight gain.

Anne

 

[Disneyrsh]

Then use opf the word "most" or "generally" would have been appropriate in your all encompassing statement. I think you owe more than a few people an apology. I am quite sane, thank you, and felt your comments were unreasonably arrogant, unjusitfiable, and spiteful by not exclusing certain groups of people who truly have medical conditions that cause excessive weight gain.

Anne

Ack. Because most people understood that this is a discussion about diet/exercise related obesity, not medically induced obesity.

 

[Marseeya]

Anne, I don't think anyone is refuting the fact that there are people who have special circumstances. But there aren't SO many of them that the marketers have decided to expand their clothing lines. Your son's case is the exception, not the norm--and yes, it would be a shame that he would be judged poorly because of his condition. It still doesn't explain the childhood obesity epidemic. They aren't all on medication. When my son was 6, he had a terrible asthma attack and was hospitalized for a week. He was put on high doses of prednisone for that week and then took it for the next two months. His face ended up looking like a "moonface" and none of his clothes fit. A few people (my friends) remarked to me that he had picked up some weight. I knew it was the medication and wasn't bothered by it all. When the medication was stopped, he lost the weight in a few months. These are all isolated incidents that don't drive the clothing market.

It is a shame that a child is judged period -- but not just that, why should a parent have to worry about being judged as well, which is what we're hearing in this thread!

I'd bet you my husband's next paycheck that the first thing people think when they see me isn't, "Oh that poor woman -- she must have a thyroid problem!" No. What they're thinking is, "That fat lazy slob must do nothing but sit around eating fast food all day. If only she'd just eat less and exercise more..."

It's that kind of attitude that kept me so ashamed and low about my weight problem. I believe I've mentioned this to you on other threads before, but it also kept me from being diagnosed with a thyroid disorder in the first place. You try hearing all the statements of (to quote Disneyrsh) "the vast, vast, vast majority of overweight people it is the fact that they just eat too much and they don't get enough exercise." Yeah, that really inspires a person to run out to see if there is, indeed, something wrong.

 

[ducklite]

Ack. Because most people understood that this is a discussion about diet/exercise related obesity, not medically induced obesity.

So you won't apologize? I guess we see your true colors.

Anne

 

[Marseeya]

Ack. Because most people understood that this is a discussion about diet/exercise related obesity, not medically induced obesity.

Obviously not. You've offended more than one person with your broad generalizations.

 

[Disneyrsh]

And I agree with you. My problem is that Disneyrsh made a broad, all encompassing, derrogatory, judgemental statement about anyone who is overweight. Glad your son is feeling better.

ANne

Mind posting specifically what that statement was? Oh, the one about if you take in more calories than you burn, you put on weight?

Seriously, what are you women thinking? It is FACT, it's not 'judgemental' it's not 'derogatory'. No statement was ever made by me that my kids are 'better' than your kids or that I or the OP was a 'better' parent. Both of us made the observation that KIDS ARE FAT IN ASTOUNDING NUMBERS today, and people wigged out.

Alas, I never, ever used the term 'overweight'. You are all getting very angry, upset and taking what is a national health crisis as a personal insult.

I know at time I've carried too much fat on me, and I know I felt bad. I also know it was MY FAULT for gaining the weight, not my 'metabolism' or whatever. I ATE TOO MUCH.

You need to get over being angry about your weight and go out for a walk. I did.

 

[allie&mattsmom]

Ack. Because most people understood that this is a discussion about diet/exercise related obesity, not medically induced obesity.

You can't include me in that "most people" category. I found your posts extremely rude and offensive.

 

[allie&mattsmom]

You need to get over being angry about your weight and go out for a walk. I did.

Thanks for the advice, but no one in my family is overweight. And I still find your posts rude.

 

[ducklite]

Mind posting specifically what that statement was? Oh, the one about if you take in more calories than you burn, you put on weight?

Seriously, what are you women thinking? It is FACT, it's not 'judgemental' it's not 'derogatory'. No statement was ever made by me that my kids are 'better' than your kids or that I or the OP was a 'better' parent. Both of us made the observation that KIDS ARE FAT IN ASTOUNDING NUMBERS today, and people wigged out.

Alas, I never, ever used the term 'overweight'. You are all getting very angry, upset and taking what is a national health crisis as a personal insult.

I know at time I've carried too much fat on me, and I know I felt bad. I also know it was MY FAULT for gaining the weight, not my 'metabolism' or whatever. I ATE TOO MUCH.

You need to get over being angry about your weight and go out for a walk. I did.

You wrote "You eat too much, you get fat. Any other explanation is bulls*t."

So my son should have cut back on his food intake to what? A few carrot sticks? Because he STILL would have gained the weight due to the medication. Like I said--at 6' he had a 28" waist. He started this medication, didn't change his diet (which obviously is a healthy one based on his pre-med size) or activity level (he spends a couple hours a day outside playing basketball) and put five inches on his waistline. It's not rocket science that the medication caused him to become overweight--especially since he lost all the gained weight when taken off the medication.

Your assertation that the only reason someone gets fat is due to overeating or bad diet is arrogant, rude, and jsut plain WRONG. I pointed that out to you, and suggested that you owe some people an apology for your senseless and ridiculous, hurtful comments, and you refuse to do so.

Anne

 

[Disneyrsh]

Thanks for the advice, but no one in my family is overweight. And I still find your posts rude.

No, walking is not for the weight, it's for the anger. Although it's good for that, too.

And from now on I promise to end all statements with a little * , and in my siggy I will put whatever disclaimer Dr. Phil puts at the end of his show, like, this advice is not meant to specifically apply to you and there may be exceptions to this statement when referenced to the general public....

Or, perhaps, "Barring specific medical conditions (not including 'low metabolism'), if you eat too many calories, you will gain weight."

Sheesh, really, if you know your son is overweight because he's on medicine that makes him so, then it's not part of this discussion a. because he's an adult and the op was talking about kids, and b. it's caused by medication, not by lifestyle, and the ORIGINAL discussion was about lifestyle choices made by parents that were causing their kids to become obese, not, for the thousandth time, medications!

 

[ducklite]

Sheesh, really, if you know your son is overweight because he's on medicine that makes him so, then it's not part of this discussion a. because he's an adult and the op was talking about kids, and b. it's caused by medication, not by lifestyle, and the ORIGINAL discussion was about lifestyle choices made by parents that were causing their kids to become obese, not, for the thousandth time, medications!

He wasn't an adult at the time. Neither was my borther who I mentioned had a similar medicine related weight gain earlier in this thread.

Again, you made an ignorant, all-encompassing statement that is hurtful and untrue and won't apologize for it. Shows where you are really coming from.

Anne

 

[kristen821]

Disneyrsh-It isn't only overweight people who took offense to your statements. My children are both healthy or underweight. It is your judgemental attitude that you have had on this post and other post that I have read as well.
Yes some parents make wrong dicissions in the food they give thier children but that is not always the case. Sometimes it is hard for parents to be able to make right decisions, sometimes its medical, sometimes it is in your genes. You can't make negative comments towards people without knowing the history behind the weight. I think you may need to go on another walk.

 

[phillybeth]

Well, plus-size clothes for girls have been around since I was a kid, and I'm 38 years old.

Yup, I remember they always had plus-sized at Sears and JC Penney, for girls and boys.

 

[FSUGrad97]

I find it hilarious that people get so angry when presented with any sort of truth that they're not interested in hearing.

What's rude about doing a BMI on your kid so you know, hey, that's lean muscle mass, she's doing great, or hey, her BMI is high, the way I'm feeding her is exposing her to adult illnesses, I need to work on changing how we eat so we're leaner and healthier.

Yeah, that's *so* rude.

And let me tell you, it's hard as hell to stay at a healthy weight without resorting to bad eating habits, not eating at all, or being hungry all the time.

That's what people are getting so angry at, because most of us fail to consistently eat healthy and feed our families well on a regular basis because there is *so much* bad food out there!

Since you seem to be an expert on other people's weight problems, you might want to work on your tact (or lack of).

I don't have a weight problem, but I know people who have struggled with their weight and your comments are bordering on being obnoxious.

I find it hilarious that you call yourself a "belle." Being from the South, I know a lot of Southern Belles, and you would not fit in that category with the comments you have made on this thread.

 

[summerrluvv]

Disneyrsh-It isn't only overweight people who took offense to your statements. My children are both healthy or underweight. It is your judgemental attitude that you have had on this post and other post that I have read as well.
Yes some parents make wrong dicissions in the food they give thier children but that is not always the case. Sometimes it is hard for parents to be able to make right decisions, sometimes its medical, sometimes it is in your genes. You can't make negative comments towards people without knowing the history behind the weight. I think you may need to go on another walk.

If I remember correctly Disneyrsh used to be a model, so she is probably really in touch with eating healthy and maintaining her weight.

Growing up we used to eat a lot of junky food. Not soo much chips and snacks, but frozen pot pies, fish sticks, tater tots, nuggets, kool aid, etc. My mom was a single mother so these options were the most economical to feed three girls. My sisters and I have never had a weight problem. My mom made us play outside when it was nice so we were all active for the most part. I think the children these days are overweight due to the sedentary lifestyles they lead. Too much TV, Video Games, Computer, etc. Not enough activity.

 

[Marseeya]

If I remember correctly Disneyrsh used to be a model, so she is probably really in touch with eating healthy and maintaining her weight.

Growing up we used to eat a lot of junky food. Not soo much chips and snacks, but frozen pot pies, fish sticks, tater tots, nuggets, kool aid, etc. My mom was a single mother so these options were the most economical to feed three girls. My sisters and I have never had a weight problem. My mom made us play outside when it was nice so we were all active for the most part. I think the children these days are overweight due to the sedentary lifestyles they lead. Too much TV, Video Games, Computer, etc. Not enough activity.

There's also a greater awareness of safety issues as well. When I was a kid, we used to run the entire neighborhood from sunup until sundown. And I mean RUN! Nowadays, you don't see kids out running around like that -- they're all confined to their own yards, and if their parents work, they're probably at the sitter's confined in that yard.

It's just a different world we live in and our bodies haven't gotten the news yet. I sure wish my metabolism would get the message. Wouldn't it be great to burn a ton of calories for sitting at the computer???

 

[kristen821]

If I remember correctly Disneyrsh used to be a model, so she is probably really in touch with eating healthy and maintaining her weight.

Growing up we used to eat a lot of junky food. Not soo much chips and snacks, but frozen pot pies, fish sticks, tater tots, nuggets, kool aid, etc. My mom was a single mother so these options were the most economical to feed three girls. My sisters and I have never had a weight problem. My mom made us play outside when it was nice so we were all active for the most part. I think the children these days are overweight due to the sedentary lifestyles they lead. Too much TV, Video Games, Computer, etc. Not enough activity.

In some cases yes I am sure you are right, but not in all cases so it doesn't give anyone the right to judge anyone else. Also, you need to remember it isn't safe for kids to play outside by themselves like it used to be. If I was a single mother now a days I wouldn't let my kids run around outside while I was at work trying to support them.

I also don't think that being an x-model gives anyone the right to judge someone else even if she is in touch with eating healthy and maintaing her weight.

 

[Disneyrsh]

It is your judgemental attitude that you have had on this post and other post that I have read as well.
Yes some parents make wrong dicissions in the food they give thier children but that is not always the case. Sometimes it is hard for parents to be able to make right decisions, sometimes its medical, sometimes it is in your genes. You can't make negative comments towards people without knowing the history behind the weight. I think you may need to go on another walk.

I laugh about the judgemental attitude comment; anybody watch the episode of "My Name Is Earl" where Earl's ex mother in law does all sorts of terrible things to herself and others and then when they look at her she goes "Dontchoo judge me, Earl!"

Frankly, I'm getting tired of being told that "oh, you've got good genes that keep you slim," or "wow, you must have a high metabolism," usually by somebody that's overweight.

How nice of them to totally dismiss all the hard work I do for myself and my family to keep us eating right and at a healthy weight; they take one look at me and say, 'lucky', therefore taking THEMSELVES off the hook for any personal responsibility to take better care of their health.

I'm sick of it!

I work hard to stay healthy and at a healthy weight, and the next time someone with a double-wide fanny makes a snarky comment about MY weight, I'm not going to smile and say "yeah, lucky us" through gritted teeth. What should I say to her, "Oh, poor you, you're so unlucky because of your metabolism?" It's cruel, to say it to me, and it's cruel on the flip side.

I'm so sick of all the excuses I've seen here for why people are fat. It's NOT in your genes, it's NOT your metabolism. Those are excuses! Some people can eat a ton and not get fat. That was my dad. Well, guess what, you can't do that forever, and unless you adapt your eating habits, you WILL get fat, genes and metabolism notwithstanding. People who don't adapt their eating habits to their 'genes' or 'metabolism' and then blame those elements are making excuses. I used to have a very fast 'metabolism' (such a baloney term to begin with), and now it is slower, because EVERYONE'S metabolism gets slower as they age. So now, I eat less and exercise more. And somehow being able to maintain my weight has made me 'lucky'.

Arrrgggghhh.

 

[summerrluvv]

In some cases yes I am sure you are right, but not in all cases so it doesn't give anyone the right to judge anyone else. Also, you need to remember it isn't safe for kids to play outside by themselves like it used to be. If I was a single mother now a days I wouldn't let my kids run around outside while I was at work trying to support them.

I never said my mom let us run outside while she was working. Where on earth did you get that?