This week, children will return to school with new rules regarding soft-drink purchase and healthier food options in canteens. Some think these changes are draconian and that the onus is on the parent to provide, not the school to decide. But I believe any change that helps parents help children make healthier choices is a change for the better…

Above all, clinicians have a duty to do no harm. Awareness of pejorative language is paramount. Is obese a useful, positive word in a pediatric or other clinical setting? I don’t use the term obese in my practice. A far more useful phrase is “above the healthiest weight for you”. This implies the goal is improved health for that individual, not simply conforming to a chart or society’s stereotypical views on beauty…

It’s likely that misguided efforts can cause harm; but it’s difficult to separate their effect from the endless barrage of insults our children receive from every media source, such as “gastro-porn”, or “fat-loathing” television reality shows which perpetuate the dichotomy of fat as evil (unhealthy, ugly and loathsome), and thin as ideal (healthy, happy, popular and perfect).

Such shows undermine parenting and weaken self-esteem, providing a formula for disordered eating…

The health of children as young as five can suffer as a result of their being overweight, and we know that the longer a person is overweight the greater the health risks. Thus helping a child become the healthiest weight for them as early as possible, or preventing overweight, shouldn’t be avoided because were afraid of causing harm.

Source: The Age
http://tinyurl.com/3623pu