ooohh, news story. I'm so upset by this!
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| Fri, 07-14-2006 - 8:49am |
CBS news just had a story I am steaming about! They had a story about kids in the classroom learning about nutrition, BMI, etc. There was one little girl who was a tiny little bit pudgy. Just a second grader!
Well I was that second grader. Third grader, and fourth grader also.
They singled her out among all the other kids and made her an example. The poor little girl was so ashamed. They were interviewing her and her poor little head was hanging and she was reluctantly answering these questions. And she had lost five pounds. hip hip hurray :o( And the little girl reported this, she did not look happy at all.
I think it's wrong, and I'm no pediatrician, I recognize that. Maybe they let little kids lose weight these days. But I was always told that children should not restrict their diets, yes they could be healthier, but to not restrict their eating. Their bodies are growing and need the fuel and nutrients.
When I was that age, I was already troubled and felt outcast b/c of the teasing! People kept assuring me that it was baby fat. And know what, it was. I reached 5th and 6th grade and the weight redistributed, I got taller and had a normal body.
And look what I did -- y'know?
I hope this little girl doesn't have any predisposition to any kind of mental illness, for I feel this will feed it so bad. Imagine the pressure she is under, a second grader being made an example on national television!
At least they let her be with her mother at the end. I'll bet more than anything she has a wonderful mother who will handle the little girl's emotions.
A lot of this is subjective, I realize, and if I had a chance, I'd like to watch the interview again, to check out my interpretation. The facts are tho that a little, slightly pudgy second grader is being encouraged to lose weight and I think that is wrong.
Did anyone else see this story? What did you think? OR if you didn't, what is your reaction?

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Unbelievable. I didn't see the story, but thanks for sharing it. It makes me worry about my daughter as she's growing up, and what kind of influence the media and entertainment world is going to have on her and the way she views herself.
I can relate, but in a bit different way. As a child, I always felt like I was fat. Years later, looking at pictures from my childhood, I was nowhere near being even chubby. I was quite skinny actually, but I never could see that, and I definitely didn't feel that I was.
Like you, I also hope this little girl's mother will be what she needs at this time, instead of furthering the insanity that's been brought on her. How could people do that to a CHILD??!!??
Sarah
How could people do that to a CHILD??!!??
Anything for a story ... I guess ... :o(
That they were probably "well meaning" doesn't get anywhere with me!
Nope, I didn't get to see this, but you know why ;-)
Whilst there are a lot of kids out there who are obese and whose parents need to do something about it, it's the parents who need to do something about it, not the kids. Teaching kids about BMI, pushing them to diet at such an early age is just bad bad bad bad bad. What kids ought to learn in school is about nutrition, and being given healthy choices at the cafeteria. They ought to learn that sports can be a fun activity, and not something that is competitive where of course the naturally sporty and fit will excel and the rest just look bad.
If everyone is so concerned about obese children, then they ought to educate the parents. Teach them to prepare healthy foods from scratch; to rely less on take-outs, fast foods and frozen foods made of dubious animal parts; to eat more fresh vegetables and fruits; to cook foods in ways that is not deep fried; to reduce soda consumption and just plain reduce sugar consumption on the whole. And get parents to be more active with their kids - go on walks as a family. Play frisbee. Ride bikes. Swim. If the parents won't move, why should the kids?
The pressure to lose weight or eat right or be more active shouldn't be on the kids. It's the responsibility of the adults. And I bet that if the whole family changes their eating habits, everybody gets the benefits without anyone being targeted in particular and being made to feel bad.
Sheesh.
Okay, off my soapbox.