New York Daily News has an item about the president’s daughter Malia. The subject is childhood obesity.
The First Lady recalled visiting the pediatrician and being warned that “he was concerned that something was getting off balance.”
She hadn’t noticed the changes, Michelle Obama said, and the doctor suggested that she take a look at her kids’ BMI.
So far, so good. That is something that pediatricians are very concerned about. Pediatricians keep height and weight graphs on every patient. And when the child starts to veer from the expected — either high or low — it’s a cause for concern.
This isn’t the first time that Malia’s weight has gained national attention. In 2008 Parents magazine printed a quote from the President.
“A couple of years ago – you’d never know it by looking at her now – Malia was getting a little chubby.”
He then described the measures that were taken to adjust Malia’s diet.
Now, that’s gettting a little personal. Malia may or may not be affected by the attention. But it’s important not to make weight a subject of embarrassment or criticism.
Here’s what Laura Collins Lyster-Mensh, an eating disorder activist and executive director of Families Empowered and Supporting Treatment of Disorder had to say:
“When we speak publicly about putting our children on a diet, we start to get into weight stigma and confusing the message to families.”
Childhood obesity is an increasing concern worldwide. In the United States one third of children are overweight or obese. Therefore there are obvious concerns about the effects on long-term health.
But children have an advantage that adults do not have. They are still growing. Growing children don’t usually need to be put on a “diet.” If they adopt healthy eating habits and get the kind of activity that is natural for a child, they “grow into” their weight.
However, if they spend their days watching television and playing video games they will likely have worsening difficulties.
And if their diet is prepackaged, highly-processed, ready-to-eat snack food then their health will undoubtedly suffer.
On the other hand there is a lot that the parents can do. Keeping healthy foods available and limiting the amount of snack foods and sodas is a start.
And encouraging activity in the child is important. Little bodies — and adult bodies for that matter — were designed to be used. When they aren’t used they deteriorate.
But the number one thing that a parent can do is to set a good example. A parent who gets reasonable amounts of exercise and eats a healthy diet is more likely to have children who do the same.
http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/2010/02/05/2010-02-05_michelle_obama_under_fire_for_mentioning_daughters_during_obesity_remarks.html
