Study: Parents in denial about kids’ obesity
By Cari Romm, Atlantic
There’s a certain type of parental pride that grows from just the right combination of willful ignorance, unflagging optimism, and impressive mental gymnastics. Junior’s latest report card was less than stellar? Well, yes—he’s so smart that school just bores him. Little League game spent on the bench? The coach probably doesn’t realize the talent he has on his hands.
But that usually harmless denial can also manifest itself in a more significant—and more damaging—way, according to a new study in the Journal of the American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Specifically, the study lent more support to the notion that parents of obese children often fail to see their kids’ weight as unhealthy, even after a doctor’s diagnosis.
Researchers from the University of California San Diego and Brown University surveyed parents of first-time patients at a pediatric obesity clinic, assessing the families’ willingness to help their children lose weight. The patients, who ranged in age from 5 to 20, had all been classified as overweight or clinically obese, and most had been referred to the clinic for treatment by their regular pediatricians.
The majority of parents, 93.5 percent, correctly recognized that their children were, in fact, overweight or obese—but nearly 30 percent said they didn’t see their children’s weight as a problem, and roughly the same number rated their children’s health as “very good” or “excellent.”
I am 54. It makes me sad to look at the “norms” of my childhood vs. the “norms” of today’s children. When I was a child, an obese child was a rarity. We didn’t have video games, computers, and smart phones. We had the outdoors. Riding bikes, running around a good part of the day, walking to the homes of friends. We exercised. Me moved our bodies. We played. This was before the age of “super-sized” meals, 32+ ounce sodas, and a fast food restaurant on every corner. Healthy, home-cooked meals were the norm; not overly-processed packaged meals loaded with sugar, fat, salt, and chemicals. Diabetes and high blood pressure rates among children were not the big concern that they are today. It seems to me that today’s children would greatly benefit by a return of the norms that so many of us baby-boomers experienced growing up. It would be sad to see life expectancy rates decline based on lifestyle factors that are totally controllable.
Janice, it’s a different world. This week, a woman in Florida was arrested for letting her 7 year old son walk to, and play in, a nearby park alone, unsupervised. He did have a cell phone. REALLY? ALL our parents would have been arrested, going by today’s rules. They never knew where we were, and there was no way to communicate with us. We had the responsibility to know when to be home for supper. How are the kids ever going to grow up and become competent, independent adults if they’re never allowed out without a body guard? Such a shame.
Janice Eastburn, I’m 60, and when I was younger and my high school friends were starting up families, I heard it time and time again “their kids were bored because there’s nothing to do in Tahoe”. The young ones wanted the latest video game or hang out at a shopping mall.
Nothing to do??? When I was young I had too much to do! Skiing, sledding and shoveling snow in the winter. Summers meant hiking up to Star Lake or into Desolation, fishing, going to the beach or water skiing. There was too MUCH to do! (and my grades showed it!)
Plus I ate healthy food prepared by my folks. and helped in the family business or had one of many extra temporary side jobs.
I don’t want to sound like the “grumpy old man” but it seems to me that this upward trend in youth obesity is because of poor parenting and a a disintersted young group of kids who don’t want to get outdoors and go skiin’, biking or hiking, work,or eat healthy foods, so the’re gonna get fat and unhealthy. Plain and simple!
At least that’s my take on it . OLS
OLS, you’re probably grumpy because you wore yourself out as a kid.
(Kidding, needless to say)
Growing up in the Bay Area we didn’t quite have the number of options that y’all had at the Lake. But there was no end of things to do and get in trouble doing. Riding the self-service elevators in Bancroft Hall at Cal. Racing bicycles (and defying death) through blind intersections. Playing full-contact, no pads or helmets, football at Bushrod Park.
But, at 73, something I have (and OLS, you almost certainly do as well) is a love of reading. How could anyone, regardless of weather, health or skills, not have something to do if there’s a book, magazine, newspaper or even comic book (on which I learned how to read) anywhere around. To this day I never go anywhere without bringing a book along (or a fully loaded Kindle). How can anyone of any age not have something to do?
(By the way, my current Kindle read is “Bad Moon Rising: The Unauthorized History of Creedance Clearwater Revival. Tom Fogerty was a High School friend of mine, but I only now found time to read it)
Copper, Yes, I am a bit worn out, but had alot of fun doin’ it!
Lots of outdoor activities for fun and working physical jobs all my life. It will take a toll on you. No regrets tho!
Ever seen the sunrise from the top of Mt. Tallac when you’re in the 8th grade? Climbing the 110 ft. tram tower at Heavenly Valley to grease the shiv wheels when your 20 something? (without a saftey harness and a greasy pair of boots, scrambling about the I-Beams, I might add). Yes, lot’s of stories and yes, I’m a little banged up in the body, and some would say in the mind as well!
But back to the obesity problem. I wish more parents would try to keep their kids active outside and feed them more fruits and vegetables. Get those kids off the junk food and away from the the hand held gizmos that seem to take up so much of their time.
I would also add this goes for adults as well. Some light exercise and a good diet and you will feel good!
Yes Copper I do like to read! I’m backed up on books currently but I’ll try to find the the book about Creedance you mentioned.Take care, OlS