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Elementary School Gym teachers telling kids to restrict calories!
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Even more unfortunately, without parental support you will never get a 7 year old to stop stuffing himself with junk food.
I agree. We have tried to at least enforce some better dietary habits when we babysit from time to time, but that does nothing when it only happens on rare occasions.1 -
Gallowmere1984 wrote: »
What? Nuh uh. You haven't heard? Only skinny kids have eating disorders. Being morbidly obese is the new normal. Fat is the new black. Mmhmmmm.
Hey man, I'd old(ish). Don't come at me with your new-fangled thinking!0 -
Gallowmere1984 wrote: »
What? Nuh uh. You haven't heard? Only skinny kids have eating disorders. Being morbidly obese is the new normal. Fat is the new black. Mmhmmmm.
This is borderline blasphemy!0 -
Need2Exerc1se wrote: »
I agree so much with this. So what if he is hungry. I think it's good to teach children that it's perfectly okay to be hungry before a meal. More than okay.
Especially if I spent all my time cooking a good meal!
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I don't disagree with that either.
A lot of parents should do a better job of educating their children on proper eating habits. I realize that sometimes that can be easier said than done and I'm sure certain people who are actual parents could get mad at me, someone who isn't one, for saying that they're doing a poor job of things, but that does't stop it from being the truth.
Have you looked at the newbie threads on MFP? How can we expect parents to educate their children on things that they are completely ignorant of? It takes months to wash the misconceptions and weirdness out of those that do learn, and some (I'm almost willing to bet most) never actually change.3 -
fatgirlandrobin wrote: »This is COMPLETELY inappropriate. Teaching kids junk food is bad for them? Sure. Teaching kids they need to skip meals so they don't go over their calorie limit?? What the *kitten*???
Sorry but I'd rather my kid be fat than have an eating disorder. It's also this kind of thinking that teaches kids it's okay to bully fat kids.
Honestly, I'd take this up with the school. It's completely inappropriate.
Well, for a lot of people, being fat may be considered an eating disorder too.
And it is never ok to bully, for any reason.
The OP does have a meeting scheduled with the principal and teacher. What I would be interested in finding out is whether she is going to seek professional help for her son. There is more to this than we know. It is not just about the teachers comments, which may, or may not, have been taken out of context.
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To be honest I skip those sometimes because my tendency is to snap at people for asking questions that I feel everyone should already know the answers to lol
Seriously, dedicate one day to just browsing threads from new members, then realize that the people you are expecting to educate said children are usually even worse off. At least the newbies here have shown a modicum of initiative to learn.2 -
To be honest I skip those sometimes because my tendency is to snap at people for asking questions that I feel everyone should already know the answers to lol
Yeah like "I drank 2 gallons of water why is the scale up 6 lbs!!!????"
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To be honest I skip those sometimes because my tendency is to snap at people for asking questions that I feel everyone should already know the answers to lol
Obviously some things should be common knowledge, but I try to be a little more open to these people because, 1) I haven't been on here very long, and 2) I learned a ton from these forums that I didn't know before1 -
Gallowmere1984 wrote: »
Have you looked at the newbie threads on MFP? How can we expect parents to educate their children on things that they are completely ignorant of? It takes months to wash the misconceptions and weirdness out of those that do learn, and some (I'm almost willing to bet most) never actually change.
So very true. And so very sad. This site was a real eye opener for me. I truly had no idea that so many adults are completely clueless about nutrition and calories and how our bodies work. I mean it was really shocking to me. Still is to be honest.0 -
I'm sure that the teachers would learn something too... they'd have to follow FDA/equivalent guidelines if they endeavored to work nutrition into the curriculum. They can't teach that dinosaurs didn't exist because the teacher is Catholic etc. I'm sure there would be some sort of regulative body ensuring the information was a) standardized and b) correct.0
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To be honest I skip those sometimes because my tendency is to snap at people for asking questions that I feel everyone should already know the answers to lol
I feel like I may have snapped at a few early on because I thought they were being purposely obtuse.
Women who don't know that weight increases during PMS/TOM??
People who think you can't gain weight if you are eating healthy foods regardless of amount??
People who think you will gain weight if you eat junk/fast food regardless of amount??
Can this be real life?6 -
Need2Exerc1se wrote: »
I feel like I may have snapped at a few early on because I thought they were being purposely obtuse.
Women who don't know that weight increases during PMS/TOM??
People who think you can't gain weight if you are eating healthy foods regardless of amount??
People who think you will gain weight if you eat junk/fast food regardless of amount??
Can this be real life?
Oh it is very real, and our growing (huehue) obesity statistics prove that.1 -
Need2Exerc1se wrote: »
I'd argue that kids don't get fat without an eating disorder. Overeating is disordered eating.
For some kids, yes. I got fat because all I ate was pasta and McDonalds. I didn't overeat, I just ate *kitten* food. And I'd rather that be the case than my kid feel like food is the enemy.0 -
I think it's okay, and even beneficial, for children to learn about calories. We learned about energy balance and calories in 3rd grade and it was the first thing I fell back on as an adult when I decided to lose weight. With that said, it needs to be structured and taught right. Telling kids to do pushups if they eat something or that it's normal to eat nothing but nuts for dinner (what a dumb choice anyway?) is not the right kind of information or delivery, especially to impressionable kids. I would take it up with the school.2
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fatgirlandrobin wrote: »
For some kids, yes. I got fat because all I ate was pasta and McDonalds. I didn't overeat, I just ate *kitten* food. And I'd rather that be the case than my kid feel like food is the enemy.
And here ladies and gentlemen, is a prime example of my last few posts.
You didn't get fat because of what you ate, but how much of it.20 -
fatgirlandrobin wrote: »
For some kids, yes. I got fat because all I ate was pasta and McDonalds. I didn't overeat, I just ate *kitten* food. And I'd rather that be the case than my kid feel like food is the enemy.
Seriously? Geez, no you didn't. Fat deposits are not created by *kitten* food. They are created by excess calories. It doesn't matter if those calories come from *kitten* or from too much of a nutritious balanced meal.9 -
Need2Exerc1se wrote: »
Seriously? Geez, no you didn't. Fat deposits are not created by *kitten* food. They are created by excess calories. It doesn't matter if those calories come from *kitten* or from too much of a nutritious balanced meal.
Exactly this.
I just came off of a bulking phase, gaining 0.6-1 lbs./week, all via salmon, chicken breast, broccoli, sweet potatoes, kail, eggs, red skin potatoes, oats, apples, berries, whiting and a bit of protein powder.
You can gain weight on anything if you eat enough.5 -
Need2Exerc1se wrote: »
I feel like I may have snapped at a few early on because I thought they were being purposely obtuse.
Women who don't know that weight increases during PMS/TOM??
People who think you can't gain weight if you are eating healthy foods regardless of amount??
People who think you will gain weight if you eat junk/fast food regardless of amount??
Can this be real life?
How to eat vegetables and how to drink water were my eye openers... how to drink water especially. I assumed that was just something you did to live... but no, apparently it's learned and some people grew up drinking kool aid and soda and don't know how to do it.
I didn't realize it at the time but thinking back I really was taught to drink water - whether I wanted to or not. The same with eating vegetables.
Me: "I'm thirsty"
Mom: "Get a drink of water"
Me: "I don't want water"
Mom: "Then you're not thirsty"
The end. No one worried that I might get dehydrated or carried around juice boxes for me in case I got thirsty. Or if I was sent to bed without dinner for that matter. I doubt we'll go back to what I grew up with but we can't keep going on the way we are now that much is clear.5 -
AlabasterVerve wrote: »
How to eat vegetables and how to drink water were my eye openers... how to drink water especially. I assumed that was just something you did to live... but no, apparently it's learned and some people grew up drinking kool aid and soda and don't know how to do it.
I didn't realize it at the time but thinking back I really was taught to drink water - whether I wanted to or not. The same with eating vegetables.
Me: "I'm thirsty"
Mom: "Get a drink of water"
Me: "I don't want water"
Mom: "Then you're not thirsty"
The end. No one worried that I might get dehydrated or carried around juice boxes for me in case I got thirsty. Or if I was sent to bed without dinner for that matter. I doubt we'll go back to what I grew up with but we can't keep going on the way we are now that much is clear.
Yes! This ^. Mine was always more about food, and I think it still applies today. Parents spent an hour making a very nice dinner, and "I don't want that. I want chicken nuggets". My parents I guess were more old school. The food was sat to the side, and I could eat it later if I wanted it. They weren't making something else, and it is "only going to get worse the longer it sits there".7 -
AlabasterVerve wrote: »
How to eat vegetables and how to drink water were my eye openers... how to drink water especially. I assumed that was just something you did to live... but no, apparently it's learned and some people grew up drinking kool aid and soda and don't know how to do it.
I didn't realize it at the time but thinking back I really was taught to drink water - whether I wanted to or not. The same with eating vegetables.
Me: "I'm thirsty"
Mom: "Get a drink of water"
Me: "I don't want water"
Mom: "Then you're not thirsty"
The end. No one worried that I might get dehydrated or carried around juice boxes for me in case I got thirsty. Or if I was sent to bed without dinner for that matter. I doubt we'll go back to what I grew up with but we can't keep going on the way we are now that much is clear.
It all comes down to parenting, which many are reluctant to do. An 11 year old, very thin boy, who is reluctant to eat has issues coming from somewhere. Two parents that admitted having eating disorders. Where do you think at least part of the problem lies?
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What I remember learning from when I was in elementary school in the 90s is that exercise is good for you, and you should use the food pyramid as a guide to healthy eating. We only had gym classes once or twice a week, but everyone looked forward to them as they were made to be fun and keep us moving. Lessons on how to eat really didn't extend beyond learning that pyramid, but they made sure we knew it every year. I don't think the food pyramid is a thing anymore, now it's "my plate" or something...but it's essentially the same message -- finding the right balance between highly nutritious food, and limiting the stuff that is higher in calories and/or is less nutritious.
Teachers can clearly be very influential on their students, so knowing that your child's teacher is sending an unhealthy message and setting a very poor example is definitely reason to speak up and demand change. Elementary school kids' bodies still have a long way to go before developing into full-sized adults -- trying to tamper with their nutrition by encouraging calorie restriction is basically abuse.0 -
3rdof7sisters wrote: »
Well, for a lot of people, being fat may be considered an eating disorder too.
And it is never ok to bully, for any reason.
The OP does have a meeting scheduled with the principal and teacher. What I would be interested in finding out is whether she is going to seek professional help for her son. There is more to this than we know. It is not just about the teachers comments, which may, or may not, have been taken out of context.
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Update: meeting was today. The principal totally agreed and has put a temporary stop to any nutritional teaching in gym until they can implement a new plan. The gym teacher .. didn't deny telling the kids that she went to bed hungry after consuming her calories for the day.. she did get very defensive.. which the principal said was wrong of her to do. On a side note he even said after she left the room that he didn't even agree with the way she was teaching fitness. I'm not sure why she's still employed.
Also- to the person questioning yes I plan to seek professional help for my son.6 -
Also to the ignorant people who keep saying it's the parents fault. I do not have an eating disorder. That was 10 years ago. Also no longer married to his biological father who had one. I don't diet or restrict food. I eat healthy but don't talk about fat or calories or bad foods.6
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calimom,
Glad it worked out, and thanks for the stimulating thread!0 -
Update: meeting was today. The principal totally agreed and has put a temporary stop to any nutritional teaching in gym until they can implement a new plan. The gym teacher .. didn't deny telling the kids that she went to bed hungry after consuming her calories for the day.. she did get very defensive.. which the principal said was wrong of her to do. On a side note he even said after she left the room that he didn't even agree with the way she was teaching fitness. I'm not sure why she's still employed.
Don't know about your school system, but in the local school system here in Tx the only way to oust a teacher is to catch them standing over a dead body with a smoking gun in their hand (and even then it's really damn difficult)
Glad to hear the meeting went well and that you are looking into help for your son!5 -
Update: meeting was today. The principal totally agreed and has put a temporary stop to any nutritional teaching in gym until they can implement a new plan. The gym teacher .. didn't deny telling the kids that she went to bed hungry after consuming her calories for the day.. she did get very defensive.. which the principal said was wrong of her to do. On a side note he even said after she left the room that he didn't even agree with the way she was teaching fitness. I'm not sure why she's still employed.
Also- to the person questioning yes I plan to seek professional help for my son.
Sounds like speaking to the principal was the right way to go. He/she can monitor the gym classes if necessary.
Side note: my Mom was a gym teacher for almost 40 years, mostly in Jr. High but she first taught HS. In those days, classes were segregated so she only taught girls. She did have to take height twice a year and weight every month. If a girl was significantly overweight, she would schedule a conference with the parents and discuss nutrition, etc. and encourage the parents to seek medical/dietician help.
These days, gym is fitness, sports, and health. Nutrition instruction as part of overall health instruction is a great thing for all ages and I have no problem with it. Telling little kids that they need to count calories, etc. is not appropriate.1 -
Sounds like a great time for a real chat to your son about all the issues associated with eating, and exercise and nutrition including your own experience. Do your best to turn this into a teaching moment for your son, including that he needs to think about IF what the teachers are saying is true. I think the best thing you can do for him is to make sure that he trusts you with how he's feeling so that if/when he does have issues or anything else, that he can come to you for advice.
Beyond that I think a respectful chat with teacher is a good idea.0 -
Gallowmere1984 wrote: »
Yes and no. My girlfriend's ten year old son is a rare exception to this. Dude still has several huge bags of candy kicking around that were given to him as gifts about two years ago.
The screwed up part? He's starting to have weight problems. He doesn't eat what most would call "junk food", but he outeats his energy expenditure. I don't care if it's fruits, vegetables, lean meats and whole grains, too much of anything can cause fat gain problems. We all know this, so the people in this thread pretending like it doesn't apply to children are just baffling me.
A possibility occurs to me regarding your girlfriend's son. That was around the age where my son's hormones started going whack and he'd pudge up a bit then have a growth spurt and thin out. Lather, rinse, repeat. He's 14 now and is still doing the same thing and getting taller and taller.
Not being able to see your girlfriend's son, his weight may be beyond this simple explanation, but I thought I'd put it out there for you to consider.6
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