Opinions on childhood obesity...

If you treat your child like a victim of circumstance, they will become that victim. Is that what you want? Don't teach your kid to accept their crappy life (it's OKAY to be fat...), teach them to take control and CHANGE IT.

There have been so many posts about making sure you are delicate with children about their weight and make sure their little feelings aren't hurt... no wonder kids feel trapped in their fat little bodies! They have adults telling them on the one hand what they should eat and how to exercise, and on the other hand telling them that they're perfect just the way they are (50 pounds overweight).

TALK to your kid about their health and weight! Ask them if they know any fat kids and how they are treated at school. Make sure they understand that while their worth isn't totally dependent on their appearance, they should always strive to be the best they can possibly be in every way. Give them the tools to succeed so they can be proud of themselves instead of drowning in their own unhappiness. Don't let them be victims. Make them own their mistakes, and own up to yours.

God no wonder kids are depressed little ****s nowadays. Parents are coddling them to death and denying them the feeling of TRUE ACCOMPLISHMENT. Obviously don't be mean to your kids but stop worrying about their delicate psyches!

My mom and doctor talked to me about my weight once, and all it did was make me feel bad. Even when a doctor just asked me about my acne, it made me feel horrible. And while it did make me WISH I was skinnier and prettier and everything, I had no motivation to do anything about it. It wasn't until after I started feeling really good about myself that I actually started making a real effort to lose weight. Feeling bad and hating my body wasn't ever enough, but now that I actually like myself, I'm doing it for me. And don't get me wrong, I don't think you should encourage unhealthy habits. I just don't think convincing your kid they're not good enough is the way to go.

No offense meant, and its great how well you're doing, but my kids will never have that attitude because they wont be raised that way. If something is not right, we don't lie down and cry about it we FIX it. We aren't victims. We do not have a self pitying attitude. My kids will have the tools to succeed in life because I will teach then responsibility and self discipline and how to be happy not coddling and entitlement.

Whoa, don't insult my parents because I'm abnormally sensitive. My parents did not "coddle" me. My mom was in the army, she knows all about discipline and responsibility. My parents didn't raise us with a sense of "entitlement." I bought my laptop with my own money, and the only reason my dad agreed to even consider getting us a PS3 for Christmas is because we all agreed to give up the rest of our presents. But I was teased for my weight and acne in middle school. I can't imagine many teenage girls whose self-esteem wouldn't suffer from that. I didn't have a "self pitying attitude," it's called depression, and it's genetic, and it can't be trained out of someone. My mom did try to talk to me about my weight multiple times, but it upset me because I'm a sensitive person. And if your kids are tough enough to handle being called fat, that's great. But you can't be sure they will be.

]My son is the top seeded tennis player at his High School.
He thanked me for that.
My ten year old was invited to be on the All Star baseball team; he thanked me.
My 14 year old is a top wrestler with a shelf full of 1st place and second place trophies.
Need I go on?
All 5 of my kids excel in school and exist at the top of the social food chain.
Keep making excuses, and we'll keep winning.
That's the difference.:drinker: