Effects of Obesity in Childhood?

Love it.

I worked at a weight loss camp for kids and there were some cases that were absolutely heartbreaking...

One of the kids was from India. When he was a baby his parents left him at a train station in India and he was eventually adopted by an American family. From my understanding, they did love him unconditionally, but the emotional scarring created by his genetic parents lead to his obesity, incredibly low self-esteem, and all of the feelings he had towards himself including worthlessness and not feeling as though he was loved or had a purpose in life.

When I met him at the beginning of summer he had a terrible attitude, always had his guard up, and was generally unpleasant to be around. It took quite awhile and a lot of convincing to get him to participate without complaining. Eight weeks later... I'll never forget... It was my night off and I was dressed up, hair done, make-up on, getting ready to leave the campgrounds. When we passed eachother he said "Hi Sarah. You look really nice."

It wasn't the compliment that sticks with me, but his attitude and just the fact that he had the confidence to make someone else feel good about themselves... the same way that he finally did!

My niece was born with a hormonal issue that interfered with her insulin and leptin. At 7 years old and at 48" tall she weighed in at 170lbs. According to my cousin, she was teased very harshly at school and bullies called her many names. She had to go to a different school for special needs even though her intellect was fine. At 18 she was up to 320 at 5'2" and although she didn't have to deal with regular high school, she only had a handful of friends. When I've spoken to her about it, she cries and wishes that she would have had a normal school life. She had no boyfriends, no prom to go to and stayed home a lot because there wasn't much she could do. The kicker is that it had nothing to do with how she ate.

My mom was raised in a home where food was withheld as punishment all the time. As a result, she made sure we always had plenty to eat and often rewarded with food. As a result I was always the child with such a pretty face...if only she could lose some weight. Now, I was overweight but not huge by any means. I did not date in high school, was never asked to any dances, etc. After high school I dated plenty, got married early, and started having kids. My point is I never had a chance to work on myself. For the last eight years I have been working on myself on and off. I am still not at my goal weight, nor have I ever been. I have gotten close but then end up getting "comfortable" and putting some of the weight back on.
Does it hurt you to be an overweight child? I would say yes, it is much harder to undo something you have known for your entire life. For others it has been the motivation they have needed to not only lose the weight but refuse to ever feel like that again. It is going to be different for everyone.
I encourage my own children to listen to their bodies, and make good choices so they can live healthy lives. They all see me workout day in and day out. I hope this type of influence will fight the obesity epidemic our county faces.
Good luck with your study!!
Jayme

OH BOY...
I grew up in an "Empty Plate Syndrome" type of house.... you couldnt leave the table until all of the food was eaten, and your glass was empty... I was severely abused by my father while my mother turned the other cheek. When the alcohol came into the picture and then even more beatings, I begged my mother for help to please stop him from hurting me, she kept telling me 'she couldnt afford to be on her own, try to put up with it a little longer"... I remember walking back to my room stunned and vomited all over myself...

I was 'reminded' by my father of how atrocious I looked, and how disgusted he was with me. I could never find a man to love a fat piece of s***.... yeah, it kept going on and on for almost 13 years.

Was never liked, more of everyone's punching bag for how fat I was, and if I didnt hear it at home about never getting married, I heard it at school with the never having a boyfriend. Sad part was, I never had a boyfriend while in school - was actually glad...

Now at age 37, through rigorous testing, blood work, specialists, yadda yadda yadda... I was never diagnosed with diabetes as a child, never diagnosed with gestational diabetes when I barely survived having my daughter, and that list also continues... and the Endo who was able to review my entire medical history comes to my aid, holding my hand while I cried in her office three weeks ago.... telling me she can help me with my PCOS and my Metabolic X Syndrome. She directed me here.

AS OF TODAY - 10/12/2011, I have lost a total of 55lbs - 9 of which was with beginning on MFP 3-4 weeks ago, I have 85 pounds to go. My current husband has been with me for 12 years - two of which we have been married... Guess that *kitten* father was wrong about me....