Child weight surgery becoming more common

[winnieb]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

Have you seen the 5 year old that weighs about 300 lbs? She's the size of 4 "regular" 5 year old girls.

That is AWFUL! That isn't even the size of 4 regular 5 yr olds-- that would be 75lbs a piece and I consider that heavy for a 5 yr old.
Any mother that allows her child to gain that much weight should be charged with child endangerment!

I have a friend whose nephews are seriously overweight-- the 4 yr old outweighs my 5 and 8 yr olds combined-- and the 13 yr old boy weighs about 230lbs right now. It is very sad!!!

My kids school does snacks during kindergarten and 1st grade. We have an approved list of food-- the snack bucket rotates so each family is responsible for buy snacks once a month for the entire class. If the snack is not on the approved list it cannot be served. The approved list includes: yogurt, fruit snacks, crackers, veggies, fruits, etc-- candy, cookies, cakes are not allowed.

My boys are very aware of the food they eat-- I think in our school healthy food and eating habits are very much pushed. Granted my kids love having happy meals and candy but they know how to read food labels, they learned it in PE. Both my kids make a point to exercise and worry about the food they eat (it is kind of odd to watch two little boys be concerned w/ the calories and fat in their food!) But both boys are very healthy and active---my 5yr old weighs 55lbs and the 8 yr old weighs 65lbs. For snacks at night they have fruit, they aren't allowed to sit around and play video games and watch tv, i do allow it- but they also must go out and move around.
I think it is a matter of parents taking control-- not always doing what is easy (like watching tv and handing out snack cakes) --but taking an active role in the kids lives and helping them develope a healthy lifestyle.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by winnieb

That is AWFUL! That isn't even the size of 4 regular 5 yr olds-- that would be 75lbs a piece and I consider that heavy for a 5 yr old.

You're right, the typical weight of a 5 yr old is about 50 lbs.

So she weights about 200-250lbs--the size of 4 or 5 5 year olds.

[winnieb]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

You're right, the typical weight of a 5 yr old is about 50 lbs.

So she weights about 200-250lbs--the size of 4 or 5 5 year olds.

either way-- its horrid!

[ufdale]

Originally Posted by winnieb

I think it is a matter of parents taking control-- not always doing what is easy (like watching tv and handing out snack cakes) --but taking an active role in the kids lives and helping them develope a healthy lifestyle.

I think even if the kids know what to eat, it's hard to stick to a healthy diet when the parents aren't all for it (like mine!). I'm a really healthy eater and I love eating healthy, but it helps SO MUCH that my roomates and I (2 guys, 2 girls) refuse to have anything "hand-accessible" in the kitchen (no chips, pretzels, granola bars, or anything that doesn't need cooked, other than carrots and veggies). My mom has this huge, walk-in pantry that is so stuffed with junk food that food falls out at you everytime you open the door. Everyone asks her to stop buying the food (even my overweight little sis who's 11), but she likes eating it.