Both Joanne Jacobs and Dr. Helen have recent posts (here and here) on an issue relating to obese children. The issue isn't how many children are overweight. (In America about a third are overweight.) The issue is should doctors tell children? The concern is telling the children might hurt their self esteem. Both Dr. Helen and Joanne Jacobs say we should tell children the truth.
I agree. I don't think we need an in your face, obnoxious, make a big deal about it approach. But doctors should be able to politely tell parents the health risks to childhood obesity. In Joanne Jacobs' book, Our School, she says the school's unofficial model was: "We're not good now, but we can do better." To start any kind of useful change you need to acknowledge the current state, lack of academic progress or overweight children, before you can really improve.
It is sad that our society thinks it is better to hide the truth so children will feel better for a few moments, rather than help them improve and have a much better life.
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Technorati tags: obesity, doctor, parents, parenting, children, childhood
5 comments:
I've been reading these articles with some amusement. "Should we tell these children they are overweight?"
I'm sure they already know. Some meanmouthed peer has already told them if they haven't figured it out for themselves.
And what good does it do to state the obvious if the problem itself (obesity) cannot be addressed?
Put children on diets? Prescribe more medication? *Make* them exercise? The reasons for increased childhood obesity are myriad - I can think of a half a dozen right off the top of my head. And you know what? None of them have as much to do with children as they do with society itself.
Our society and the way it conducts itself on a daily basis has changed and human bodies have not adapted well to that change.
You can thank the FDA for the additives and junk that is allowed to be in our food supply as well.
Medications, and toxins in the environment are also clogging our livers and preventing us from functioning properly.
Children (and adults) certainly do not get enough fresh air or exercise
Obesity needs to be treated like a real disease. I was overweight as a kid and later became obese. Look at these obese children and ask yourself what will be the quality of their lives?
I think doctors need to say whatever is necessary to let parents know if their child has a condition that can dramatically decrease his/her lifespan - such as obesity. Childhood obesity is a terrible condition because it not only puts the child at risk for juvenile diabetes, it sets them on a course for a long life of weight issues...which of course can lead to heart disease, stroke, some cancers, etc....Let's not worry so much about the child's self-esteem and worry more about their overall health and quality of life.
http://homeschooling.youngparentsmagazine.com
I'm sure they know...but I think more in order would be help for the child and parent in how to combat this and more analysis of what is going on. Exercise? Diet? Perhaps there is a metabolic problem?
If it were any other disease, the doctor would be at risk of a malpractice suit for withholding information critical for treatment, such as an actual diagnosis.
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