Check out this article, Thoughts?

Replies

  • newcs
    newcs Posts: 717 Member
    I think the professional's advice is good but I don't like the impression I get of the mother in the article. The professional mentions mitigating risks of developing eating disorders, giving kids a choice about which healthy option they want, keeping healthy snacks around, etc. The mother seems to be having a major power struggle with the daughter instead of helping her take control and get on the right track. What kid wants to just walk for 4 miles?? I don't even want to walk for 4 miles. I'm glad it seems to be working for her but hope that it sticks and that she's created lifelong healthy habits.
  • Chief_Rocka
    Chief_Rocka Posts: 4,710 Member
    I found it to be both trite and overwrought.
  • fitniknik
    fitniknik Posts: 713 Member
    I cant imagine going to sports practice for several diffrent sports then being forced into the gym for an hour and 15 minutes minimum! I realize there are many benifits for the kid right now, but where is she going to be when she is 20 or older?
  • lizzybethclaire
    lizzybethclaire Posts: 849 Member
    I think it all depends on the child. I was overweight as a child and my mom was the food police. She monitored all that I ate and there were all these forbidden foods. It wasn't until college that I had cotton candy or a double stuffed oreo. Of course, since I was policed and not allowed to ever eat what I wanted (even within reason) as a child I went nuts when I was older. The worst part is that I really wasn't that heavy as a child when you think about how much I was growing. No one had any reason to believe the daughter of a 5'6 petite woman would grow into a broad chested 6'1 woman. I think if my mom had just focused on healthier eating I wouldn't have went nuts when it came to food when I went to college and beyond.
    Now, all 3 of my husband's children were told they had to lose weight. My son was a butterball when he was 11, but we encouraged him to eat healthy, exercise, and join sports. He did all those things and now is a very trim 17 year old. We didn't really cut off his food, just provided healthier choices. He is 6'8 and all of that fat is gone. My other son increased his physical activity and slimmed down. Now, my youngest is definitely overweight, but we did the same thing as for the other two. Cut off seconds from dinner, provided healthy snacks if they are still hungry, and encourage physical activity. He has already lost some weight.
  • lizzybethclaire
    lizzybethclaire Posts: 849 Member
    I do think this woman has gone a bit overboard. I can't imagine making one of my kids go to the gym for an hour a day when they were 9. Hell, my kids went to bed by 8:30. Plus with all those activities. When does this kid get a chance to just veg out and relax?
  • karensoxfan
    karensoxfan Posts: 902 Member
    First, I think physical activity for kids should not be called "working out" - it should be called play time. As in go do something fun where you move your body. Jump rope, dance, run, play tag, soccer, basketball, ice skating, etc.

    Also, this advice is absurd to me. Kids want fried chicken and candy and chips because they taste good. They don't want spinach or brussel sprouts because they don't taste good. Asking "Why don't you want these collard greens?" or "Why don't you want to go on a 4-mile hike?" seems silly to me when you know the answers before you ask:

    "Parents should ask why a child wants a certain food or doesn't want to work out and problem-solve with them to find a healthy alternative."

    The better thing to ask would be: Would you like carrots or green beans with dinner tonight? Or when they're hungry for a snack, offer something healthy or nothing at all. And even if you don't give them a choice, when you ONLY offer healthy food, kids WILL eventually eat what you put in front of them. If they refuse, they can skip a meal. They'll catch on.

    I'm glad this family is getting this girl's weight under control, but I'd be interested to read a follow-up in 20 years to see if she rebels against such a forced method for accomplishing it.
  • mizzie1980
    mizzie1980 Posts: 379 Member
    I agree that it's good for the parents to be working on the girl's weight (180+ at 9 years old?!? Dear lord!), but I'd so much rather see the girl doing the sports she's in and running around outside with friends, than going on a forced 4 mile walk with mom. My daughter happens to like going for long walks, but a lot of kids won't. Seriously, what's the first thing any of us say to someone who posts asking what to do when they don't like exercise? We tell them to find something active that they do enjoy. Why force the kid into something she doesn't like when there's a whole world of things to choose from?

    That said, I am really glad they are doing something about it! My daughter will be 9 in just a few days and she weighs about 70 pounds, which is smack in the middle of her healthy weight range.

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