The premise behind it was to inform students and their parents about the health risks involved with being overweight and obesity.  Each year the kids would be weighed and have their BMI evaluated …

It woke some children and parents up.  16 year old Jeffrey Trimble didn’t like being the report and decided to change his ways.  He lost 35 pounds by watching his diet and not eating so much junk food.  He said it used to be nothing for him to gobble down 6 cheeseburgers a day.

But, now legislators and some parents have complained that telling kids they are overweight and/or obese damanges their self-esteem and wants a change …

This really surprised me, because doesn’t being overweight damage their self-esteem more? 

Isn’t it better to inform kids about the dangers of obesity? 

Wouldn’t we be a wise nation if we taught our children about nutrition and how to eat healthy?

Kids can be cruel – always have been – always will be.  And overweight kids always get picked on – regardless. 

Overweight children was down to 37.5% from 38.1 in Arkansas.  But because of legislative changes, they will now only be reporting every two years – and the parents can opt out.

The odd thing about this “law” is that according to a recent study 68% of the parents and an overwehilming 85% of the students stated they were comfortable with the reports.

So what’s your thoughts?  Do you think that the schools should give obesity report cards?  After all it seems us as parents are failing to teach our children proper nutrition.  And parents never want to see their kids as overweight …. Isn’t it time we took a reality check?

Till next time,

Cindy

A 5′5, 220 pound 12 year old girl had liposuction and a tummy tuck. Then when she gained about half the weight back, her parents took her to Mexico to have a lap banding surgery.

The parents didn’t want to wade through all the so called red tape that American doctors have you go through before performing the surgery.  Red tape?  Could it possibly be for the sake of mental and physical health?

To look at this girl, it appears that she is big boned.  I mention this because I know people whom have had the surgery, and doctors usually want you to be one hundred pounds overweight before undergoing the surgery.  I’m thinking she weighed maybe 190 and should be about 140. 

The Mom said that the girl had been on diets since the age of three. Mom believed her daughters weight problem was heredity.

You can see pictures and read the story at ABC News.

Now I’m far from being an expert … but it seems to me, like the American doctors would have had to rule out thyroid and other medical problems that would have caused the weight gain.

Yeah, I know that our children are getting heavier … but shouldn’t we be encouraging them to eat right and exercise?

When I started high school, I was 5′2″ and weighed 195 pounds.  I was a little roly-poly that constantly got teased I didn’t like being fat in high school.  I wanted the boys to look at me, so I went on a diet.
 

My Mom, bless her heart cooked me a special breakfast and dinner.  For lunch I always had Figurines (I think they were the first meal replacement bars).  My skinny friend came to my house every day and exercises with me ….

Wouldn’t you know it, within 6 months I weighed 115 pounds 

It’s amazing what good nutrition and exercise can do for an obese child.  They usually have an easier time getting their metabolism on track than adults do.

So let me know what you think ….

The study included 63 children between the ages of 3 and 5.  Their families were all in a “low income bracket”, but researchers believe the results would be the same in the “high income bracket”.

 The study wanted to see the overall influence of a company’s brand … to be exact “McDonalds”.  Most children know “Ronald McDonald” and the “Golden Arches” logo. They know what a “Happy Meal” is.  Of the 63 children only 2 of them had never eaten at McDonalds.

The researchers bought baby carrotts from the store.  Wrapped some in McDonlads paper, and some in plain paper.  Guess which the kids picked …

You guessed it!  An overwhelming 54% of the kids said the “McDonalds Carrotts” were the best.  23% liked the plain wrap better.  The rest of the kids said they were the same.

The study included 6 foods, hamburgers, fries and chicken nuggetts from McDonalds that was made in the same order; And milk, juice and carrotts from the local grocery store.

77% of the children liked the McDonalds fries the best
13% picked the unbranded fries

48% of the kids choose the McDonalds hamburger
36% liked the plain wrap

59% of the kids liked the McDonalds Chicken Nuggets
18% favoured the nuggets presented in plain wrapping

61% of the children stated the milk or juice in the McDonalds cup tasted better
21% choose the plain wrap

It’s obvious that branding has a deffinite impact on what kids like and dislike. Some companies are experimenting by putting Mickey Mouse cartoons on sliced fruit to promote healthier eating habits.

McDonalds is concerned about the rise in childhood obeseity.   They state they want to be part of the solution. 

McDonald’s, announced new curbs on marketing to children under 12.  They say the only Happy Meal they will promote will contain fruit and have fewer calories and fat. 

Hip-Hip-Hooray for McDonalds!