Should kids be on diets? A common sense view..

I saw on my favorite morning show , {Which I have a Hate & Love relationship with!}  That a Mom has written an article in a big magazine about how she put her seven year old daughter on a diet.  I am going to be honest I have not read it yet, But apparently she was heavy, and was being teased at school.  the mom has received intense criticism.  It seems very ironic to me that if our children "miss out" on Pizza, cupcakes, chips, Hotdogs, ice cream, and yes HAPPY MEALS, that they are being deprived of their childhoods.  And yet it is the first thing we judge young woman on, their body weight, when they are no longer cute chunky children.  
   I think that it is wrong to starve and humiliate children who are over weight, I would never advocate that, but on the other hand it is up to the adults in the child's life to teach them about health and nutrition from the time they are babys.  Can you eat pizza, but make it healthier?  Can you add fresh fruit to desserts?  A child who is taught nutrition should be a healthy weight, taking in account that all children grow at different rates,  And instruction should be based on teaching children to be healthy, not focusing on their weight.
   And if the entire family is over weight, then how can a parent expect the children to be any different?   If the entire family engages in life changes, then instead of the child being made to feel self ashamed, they will feel that they are part of a team, and be more excited about getting healthier.
 Of course, we live in a different time then when I was a kid in the 60s, and 70s.  We did not have video and computer screens in our faces all of the time. We played outside, even in the snow.  We rode bikes, we played baseball, we swam in everybodys backyard pools.  I am not talking about organized sports, but the simple joy of racing out the door to play outside.
   I will give a small nod to  the video games that have virtual play, that is a good transitional step, at least they involve movement, and the family can play together.  But really kids should have lots of outdoor time, and so should parents.
   So was the mother wrong?   At least at face value, I say no.  In general parents are the way to childrens health, You have to say no to things that harm them, You would not let your child run into the street, you would not let them around household cleaners, but you cant say NO to junk food?  If you give your kids junk just to shut them up, or give in to their crying and whining with bad food, then who is in charge?  You or the kids?
    If your child is raised with Good nutrition in the first place at home, then an occasional cupcake or a piece of Pizza at the birthday party won't make them obese.  To be obese means that the major part of the child's diet could be poor food choices.
   If your child is on a reasonably healthy diet, and begins to gain weight,  Don't hesitate to take them to a Doctor, some children have conditions that can cause weight gain that have nothing to do with diet.  It would be a shame for a child to face self doubt and teasing if they have a medical condition.And the little child who is chunky may one day grow into a taller slimmer teenager over night.  
    If you take a common sense view of nutrition when your kids are children, you could save them years of Illness, depression, and humiliation, that comes with poor food choices.  Teach your children well, and be a good example to them, that is the best thing you will ever do for them!   
                               Thanks for looking in, Mrs Cook

Kids having fun outside! The Old Fashioned Way!