Apr 05 2007
Obesity and Eating Disorder
In Feb this year, Crazedparent wrote about an obese case in London, where the authorities considered taking an 8-year-old boy who weighted 218 pounds (98kg) into protective custody. The family had repeatedly failed to attend appointments with nurses, nutritionists and social workers. A court decided that his mother could continue to look after him with help to control his diel.
Few days ago, a similar case reported. The 10-year-old Spanish boy, weighed 220 pounds, taken away from his family 10 months ago. Since then, he has lost 44 pounds (20kg). His obese was merely contributed by over-feeding from his grandmother, who is now allowed to visit him.
It is disheartening to hear cases like this, when children is taken away from the family because they are unable to control kids’ diet. Is this considered spoiling their children with food? We tend to get worried when our children don’t eat much, and less concerned when our children eat too much.
My mom knows of a little girl, potentially be one of those above, has a problem to control her eating habits too. Ever since she can crawl/walk, she eats anything that is edible, and wouldn’t satisfy at all. The parents got mad with her, but unable to control unless they can glue to her 24/7.
Her greed over food is beyond imagination. Example 1: the mother kept a bowl of coconut milk in the fridge to be used in cooking later — the girl just drank them all bottom up, eventhough it tastes awful on its own. Example 2: when not noticed, she opened the fridge, ate everything — including the raw eggs –> she knows how to break them, and drank the eggs (liquid form)! How tasty can that be?!
I seriously think she has some health problem, and suggested that the family seek medical advice, but probably they are in denial state – nothing was done. Oh, she is definitely overweight, but not yet to the extent of those boys mentioned above. I pitty that girl, coz she cannot control herself and she is constantly hungry…
This is such a difficult subject, but I tend to think it is a combination of both parent and physiology. However, each of this need to be looked at on a case-by-case basis. Hard to make a generalized statement when it comes to issues like this, I think.
Ya, mama smythe, I agree with you that it is a difficult subject. But my point is, as parent, if we cannot control or help the poor kid, shouldn’t we seek medical or professional help? That poor kid probably doesn’t know it is not right. She might just through – I am hungry why they don’t let me eat, do they hate me?
Overweight problem is quite common esp in teenage & childre nowadays. I think parents plays an important part in their children’s eating habit. If the parents don’t take veggie, do u think the kid will take veggie? Of course not.
I saw an ad in the newspaper this morning where they offer slimming programme for kids!!! What to do!!! There is a demand market.
Yeah, my mom will always complain D and R are too skinny but I think they are just eating fine and enough nutrition. She likes to compare them to other kids. I think the old folks think that a fat kid is the most healthy one. Sometimes, this is really annoying and every each time when she commented, LA will look at me. I believe many old folks would like to see their grand children being fed to be fat!
R has lost weight due to cyclic flu and cough that in the family in December. A few days ago, we brought them to see a traditional chinese medicine doctor and they are getting better,
I will post about what I think about western medicine doctors in this case later after I complete my research about the medicines they prescribed.
Slimming program for kids? Come on! Today parents are pampering their kids and do not actually allow them to take up sports or physical activities, fearing their little “princes” and “princesses” will get hurt!
You want your children go grow healthy? Get them to more physical activities!
adrian: hahaha! True, true, absolutely agree with you on the physical activity thingy. Our children (and ourselves) are becoming potato couch, instead of instill them interest to have sports, we send them to slimming centers – how wrong, right?