Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Fat Letters


So an article in the Sacramento Bee (Fitness test results mixed for Sacramento County students; opponents decry ‘fat letters’) talked about efforts to lower childhood obesity. After review of the statewide physical fitness test results, individual school districts notify parents of their kid’s performance by letter. Opponents call them “fat letters” because they identify the body mass of each pupil.

The article stated that Experts at the National Eating Disorders Association fear the letters may trigger behaviors such as skipping meals, vomiting or taking laxatives.  Research shows that 81 percent of 10-year-olds say they are afraid of being fat.

Let’s break down the Associations concerns…Dizzy Style!

First of all, these letters are sent to the parents, not the children.  And the letters don’t call the children fat.  As a parent, it’s our job to monitor what are children are eating, how much exercise their getting, etc.  This letter helps parents recognize that there could be a problem.

Now bad parents, would take the letter and use it like a blunt instrument against their kids and call them fat, etc…thus driving them to trigger those behaviors the Association is afraid of. 
Good parents, take those letters and make subtle adjustments to their children’s lives (without telling their kids), by changing the menus up a bit, encouraging their kids activities and getting out there with them to get physically active.

When my son was at a chubby stage, he was talking about dieting and to me that is something kids should never be worried about.  My sister (his bio Mother) was also making comments. I had to live that way as a kid, with a perpetually dieting mother, who couldn’t diet alone.  She totally messed up my head about how to eat, body image, the whole nine yards.  I set my Sister straight and told her that she’s not to talk to the boy that way.  I sat my boy down and told him that he never has to worry about dieting.  It’s my job as a parent to make sure he’s eating healthy and adjusting our meals, not his job to diet.  I also explained to him that he was eating healthy and that he’s getting ready for a growth spurt that will totally adjust everything.  Although he didn’t believe me, within 9 months, the boy shot up more than 3 inches, and that chubby phase was over.

Second…so now, in this politically correct world, we can’t even receive a letter telling us our child’s body mass is too high? It would just be like these idiot parents who don’t receive a letter to sue the school district for not informing them that their child is at risk…These are the same idiots who would sue for sending the letter regarding the body mass saying “The School District implied that my child was fat”.  Boo Effing Hoo!!! Grow a pair and get effing over it!!!  Real life isn’t for sissies…It’s difficult, and it isn’t fair! Don’t like what the letter is telling you? Be a parent and take some interest in what your child is eating and doing.  Take away their X-Box and PlayStation. Limit their time on the Net and television. The world is not going to get any easier on your child…it’s just gonna get harder, and if you can’t prepare them for it, you should’ve never become a parent in the first place. 

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