Experts want more bluntness in discussing childhood obesity

Being honest with yourself is very hard to do at all ages. Denial isn't healthy. Just because a child and his/her parents don't believe that child to be obese, it doesn't make it so. Coming to grips with the truth is the most important step in overcoming your obstacles.

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Being someone who is pretty obese myself, (and didn't get that way until I hit college), I am paranoid about my son becoming overweight. I am not about to stick him in Weight Watchers - prepubescent children shouldn't worry about having to diet until after they mature.

I think the bluntness is important - however I think there's a way to do it without being mean or acting disgusted.

I also think we need to start looking harder at the commercials targeted at our children when it comes to food and at claims by advertisers of "nutritious".

Finally - with the obesity epidemic showing no signs of stopping in the US, I'd be curious if all this heavily processed, chemically preserved food we eat has taken on some addictive qualities leading to food addition or overeating disorders. God forbid we take responsibility for our own weight problems. ;) But seriously - it's no longer "emotional eating" these days...for many it's now compulsive.

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First off, childhood obesity isn't just the child's problem. It's the family's problem. Somewhere in the child's life, something went off-track that made him fat, so telling the child that he's fat or obese or whatever isn't going to do anything but make him feel worse than he probably already does.

Being blunt has its benefits, and we as a society, have lost the appreciation for bluntness. We're so busy worrying about being P.C. and not hurting *anyone's* feelings that we can't be honest with anyone about anything. So, yes... Doctors should look a parent straight in the eye and say, "Your child is clinically obese. That means that he's fat. And if you don't take steps to fix that now, he's going to die much earlier than he needs to."

And then follow that bluntness (and potential hurt feelings) with a solid plan for fixing the entire family, because if they don't follow it up, that kid is going to go home to more misery over being fat, and now he's going to have "The Diet" to deal with, as well. But if the entire family is suddenly making no big deal about eating apples instead of cookies, and going for a swim or a bike ride in the afternoon and a walk after dinner, the child will be included, and chances are, he'll be losing weight without even realizing it.

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I agree, bluntness combined with a practical plan to address the issue is important. There are plenty of adults who are in denial about their own weight problem. Some of those adults are parents, so it is not unlikely that they would downplay their children's weight issues as well. Avoiding certain terminology because it would hurt someone's feelings is not a good way to practice medicine.

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"prepubescent children shouldn't worry about having to diet until after they are mature"

Yes, some SHOULD worry about having to diet! And it's on the parents to start them!!
Not on a "diet" but on a healthy eating plan. And most times the parents could use to watch what they eat as well.

Both my husband and I are slightly overweight. Neither of us are obese. But we could use to watch what we eat and up our exercise a bit more. Hence the reason I get up before dawn and walk a mile or two daily and also spend a few hours at the barn working my fat ass off there as well. My daughter sees that we are physically active and eating better and she does the same!

Parents need to look in the mirror more often. Not just about how they act and present themselves, but also on how they take care of themselves. Children learn so much from observing us.. the adults. Maybe more parents should remember that and get off the couch.

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I think telling a parent "your kid is overweight" isn't of much value unless it is followed up with a discussion about (a) the child's current diet and exercise routine, and (b) prescribed changes in such diet and routine. The doctors should take this just as seriously as vaccinations. In fact, he shouldn't administer the child's scheduled vaccinations / tests / treatments until after both parent and child participate in an individualized discussion on healthy lifestyle changes.

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I think being blunt the parent frist would be a great idea, esp. after trying to be "nice" about it and them not getting it.

I know I am obese. I'm not hiding from the truth and I do watch what I eat and what my children eat. None of my children are overweight. I have even had a nurse comment about how little my son use, looked at me and then asked if my husband was little...I answered nope, he's like me. Neither of us gained weight till after high school.

I know some children have medical problems and such. BUT the majority of overweight kids can be blamed on the parents. They buy the food and allow it to be ate. Babies now adays are worse and go on to be overwieght. Doctor used to tell new parents to feed every 4 hours, now tell parents, feed on demand. More parents are adding Rice to formula/bottles to make babies sleep thru the night. They use more juice and snacks then healthy meals and drinks. Those are usually the same parents that have the overwieght kids....and don't understand why and/or think that a chubby toddler is cute and it's just baby-fat.

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