FitSugar

Weigh In: Would You Put an Overweight Child on a Diet?

LilSugar — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 11:32:59 PDT

Encouraging a healthy body image is something that every parent wants for their child. So when the pediatrician brings up the "O" word (as in obese), determining the best course of action is a decision that can have lasting impacts, not only on a child's physical being, but their psyche as well.

In the April issue of Vogue, Dara-Lynn Weiss wrote about her decision to put her 7-year-old daughter on a strict, Weight Watchers-style diet, and the judgment and moral conflict that came along with it.

Bea did not embrace all aspects of this endeavor. She threatened violence against the doctor as we sat in the waiting room every week. She constantly whined about being hungry and begged for food she couldn't have. She railed against the inequity of the portion-size disparity between her brother's dinner and her own. Yet Bea - remarkably, astoundingly - went along with this restrictive new plan.

Weiss was constantly met with criticism from friends, family, and even her husband, saying, "Everyone supports the mission, but no one seems to approve of my methods." After a year of dieting, Bea had lost 16 pounds, and grew two inches, reaching a healthy weight for an 8-year-old. Her mom still refers to the process as "bittersweet," as she admits that despite its successful results on the scale, the year of intense discipline took an emotional toll on her daughter.

Are you the parent of an overweight or obese child? What would you do if you were in Weiss's situation?

10 Ways to Add Exercise to Your Kids' Routine

LilSugar — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 14:29:32 PST

Kids spend a lot of time sitting in front of screens, so it's important to make sure that they get enough exercise throughout the day. Tiny tweaks to your family routine can have a huge impact on your children's activity level, so try to step back and reassess your habits to get your kids moving. Check out these 10 ways to amp up your kids' exercise patterns and share your own fitness suggestions in the comments below!

Who's to Blame For Childhood Obesity? Mom and Dad!

Natasha Dantzig — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 11:37:08 PST

Equal opportunity blame game! Moms tend to get disproportionately blamed when things with their children take a less than ideal turn. Whether it's trouble in school, difficulty making friends, or physical or mental health issues, it's the mamas who - according to most popular conceptions - bear the brunt of the responsibility. Which is why it's somewhat of a relief to see a study out this month declaring that fathers have a part to play in the childhood obesity epidemic. The study, recently published in the the International Journal of Obesity found that children living in households where the father works an irregular schedule - a phenomenon that's becoming more and more common - are more likely to become obese or overweight.

Lest the daddies get too nervous, there's another new study that places the blame right back on mama: based on data from a new study done by the National Institute of Child Health & Human Development, researchers from Ohio State University published an article in Pediatrics linking the quality of the early mother/child relationship with the child's risk of becoming obese as a teenager. The study claims that children who had a less than optimal relationship with their mother in early childhood were twice as likely to become obese; However, as researchers took into account other known factors related to the epidemic such as maternal education and household income, the findings were less conclusive, leaving parents with just as many questions and concerns as they had before.

Is one parent more to blame than the other?

Pizza Is a Vegetable? Congress's Latest Bill Seems to Think So!

Rebecca M Gruber — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 07:03:05 PST

Somebody call Jamie Oliver, because US legislators need a quick lesson in nutrition. Earlier this year, the Department of Agriculture introduced new school meal nutrition standards created in the wake of our childhood obesity epidemic. Among the lunch-line changes were new standards limiting the use of potatoes and sodium and increasing the use of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains in the cafeteria.

Congress, it seems, doesn't agree with the revised standards. This week, the legislative body put forth its latest spending bill - including budgets for the USDA - that will put tater tots back on school menus and consider pizza containing two tablespoons of tomato paste a vegetable. Yes, the simple presence of tomato paste allows a white flour, fat-laden meal to classify as a veggie. Congress argues that the USDA's recommendations were too expensive to enforce.

What do you think? Should cuts be made elsewhere to ensure that kids receive healthier meals in school? Or is it OK to consider pizza a vegetable?

A Diet Book For Kids: Kid Friendly or Are You Kidding?

Rebecca M Gruber — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 08:30:53 PDT

Childhood obesity has reached epidemic levels, but do your tots need to be reading about it?

Paul M. Kramer thinks so. The author of several self-published books about tough issues kids face (including Bullies Beware! and Divorce Stinks!) isn't set to release his latest title until October, but it's already generating criticism. Maggie Goes on a Diet ($11) is intended to teach tots (ages 4-8) about the importance of eating a healthy diet by telling the rhyming story of pudgy Maggie who goes on a diet in order to become the star of the soccer team. According to the publisher, "Maggie has so much potential that has been hiding under her extra weight."

But is the message really the importance of a healthy diet or that being slim guarantees success? If that is the message, is it one that we should be teaching young girls?

Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution Talks Diabetes, Test Your Knowledge!

Rebecca M Gruber — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 23:01:08 PDT

Despite a ban by Los Angeles' school administrators, Jamie Oliver found his way into one LA school in this week's episode of Food Revolution. While the Naked Chef wasn't allowed to set foot in the school's cafeteria, he did begin teaching culinary arts to 10 students who began their class by discussing the health issues in their families – namely diabetes. The most touching story came from a teen whose 13-year-old sister was just diagnosed with the disease. With childhood obesity on the rise, Type 2 diabetes is too. Take this quiz to see how much you know about this life-altering disease.

Take the Quiz

Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution Takes On Flavored Milks; Test Your Knowledge

Rebecca M Gruber — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 07:30:14 PDT

Do you dream in chocolate? If you're a public school child, you probably do! On the second season premier of Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution, the chef and children's food advocate began his mission to overhaul the Los Angeles school system's cafeteria food. His first target – the flavored milks served with every meal. While some argue that adding sugary flavorings is the only way to entice tots to drink the calcium- and vitamin D-rich beverage, others, including the popular chef, suggest the added sweetners are responsible for childhood diabetes, obese kids, and a host of other health issues. Before handing your child another milk box, take this quiz to see how much you know about flavored milks.

Take the Quiz

Food For Thought: Improve Eating Habits at School With Veggiecation

Leta Shy — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 03:05:46 PST

The meals you send your kids to school with may make our Out of the Lunch Box chefs proud, but those sold in the cafeteria are famous for their unhealthy fare. And with childhood obesity rates on the rise and the battle with the vending machine continuing, there's an obvious need to clean up the lunchroom.

If it's time for your child's school to embark on a food revolution, a Veggiecation may help. Any school can purchase a membership in the program, which includes a series of lessons that teach kids about vegetables through the areas of science, literacy, art, social science, math, and PE, all while feeding them tasty meals that showcase the produce. Recipe booklets for each student to take home and veggie-themed posters, songs, and stickers are also included.

Source: Flickr User Ben+Sam

Best of 2010: The Biggest Baby and Parenting Headlines

LilSugar — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 01:05:00 PST

Parenting and baby news made national headlines this year. While celebrity pregnancies and births kept us gossiping, there were a lot of medical and social issues that became major stories in 2010. Here's our look back!

Junk Food Junkies: Find Out How Much Families Eat!

Heather Maddan — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 09:00:00 PST

Everyone wants to be part of the Food Revolution until they get to the grocery store! When parents have their kids in tow (and even when mom doesn't), choosing healthy options can be tough. We asked our readers to open their cupboards and let us know what types of treats and sweets they have in the house. Here's what they had to say!

Nothing calms a sugar craving like a bite of chocolate, a lick of a lollipop, or a scoop of ice cream. From cupcakes to cookies, sweet snacks are not uncommon in a family home. In fact, 80 percent of moms said they had a stash.
There are plenty of parents and kids that like to sip on a soda pop. Some moms claim the caffeine gives them a kick start and others just can't say no to their sugar beverage loving kiddos. Twenty-four percent of moms keep soda in the fridge.
Processed food can be bought in bulk and stored for long periods of time, which makes it attractive to some moms and dads. The non-perishables also may be a good deal cheaper than fresh alternatives. Forty-four percent of moms purchase processed goods.
Kids love eye candy, but should they eat it? Nothing catches a youngster's attention like a heaping stack of rainbow hotcakes! Forty-five percent of moms see no harm in buying or preparing dyed foods.
Parents want the best for their kids, but are lax about their own eating habits. Forty percent of moms sneak junk food they don't allow their children to eat.