Comments on: Rewarding Our Children… with Obesity.

By: Stephen

Stephen — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 00:45:09 +0000

For the past ten years I have been gaining weight. A change in profession from a very physical job to a not so physical job has exasperated my condition. I have always loved food and have always been a huge eater. Until my late 20’s I was always thin, even though I ate as much as two people. Cakes, cola, lollies and chocolate were part of my normal diet. People thought it to be funny at just how much of it I ate, yet remained thin.

I have been visiting a wellness centre with chiropractic care for approx two years now. During this time I have received a lot of encouragement to lose weight and also education about the foods we eat, why we eat and the damage many foods can do to us. Enlightening stuff.

I decided to stop eating this ‘junk food’ about 7 months ago. No cake, soft drink, lollies, ice cream and chocolate. I thought it would be hard and at first, say two weeks, it was very hard. I had cravings, and to tell the truth, occasionally still have these cravings. I have once or twice sucked on a chip, but now that is all I need to satisfy the worse craving. I feel so much better, healthier and I am so much more active and physically capable. I lost approx 7kgs in the first 3 weeks and went on to lose another 6kgs over the next couple of months. Now I seam to slowly but constantly still lose weight.

Everything you have written is so true. I always rewarded myself with this junk, my wife does it, and my kids plead for ‘junk’ all the time. This article is great. I’m definitely sending it on to many people I know can benefit through reading this.

Good on ya.

By: Amy + Holly

Amy + Holly — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 10:25:28 +0000

We found this article really funny as we were finding evidence to add to our case studies for school, Even though we are both only 15 we agree completely and have both witnessed this actually happening. Thank you for making us laugh with all the sarcasm and helping us in our study

By: Jasmine

Jasmine — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 22:46:45 +0000

Hello,
As a person that’s struggled with staying on a steady diet my whole teenage and young adult life (I’m 25), I find a great deal of truth in your words. I’ve used food to pacify and soothe myself since I was around 13 years old. Finding motivation to eat healthy consistently is extremely difficult and your article just opened up a whole new world of understanding for me. Your words are helping me reprogram my brain. Thanks for that

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 14:36:00 +0000

Thank you for voicing my opinion. I catch myself all the time stopping myself from rewarding good behavior with food ( i.e. If you behave we'll go out for ice cream). I too grew up a fat kid and was smart enough to learn in my adolecent to create healthy habits (food choices and exercise). I now know better although my parents (the grandparents) disagree. They say I am depriving my child. She looks pretty healthy and happy to me so far. My rewards are hugs & Kisses and the occasional toy (an educational one of course).

By: Revka

Revka — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 21:50:00 +0000

You’re right on the money. Thanks for an enjoyable and thought-provoking post. (I came here via the carnival.)

By: Craig Harper

Craig Harper — Sun, 03 Dec 2006 08:35:00 +0000

I reckon you know a fair bit… thanks for your thoughts. You’re pretty enlightened and mature for 20… or any age

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 03 Dec 2006 05:58:00 +0000

Food sits right on that fine line between pleasure and pain. I lived 19 years of my life eating food:
1- When I was hungry
2- Because it was there
or
3- Because it tasted nice and I enjoyed eating it.
Good.
'Normal.'
How most people want to live, whether this is the majority or not.
It's only in the past year I've come to understand the power, food and the choices you make around it has, to heal and destroy. The main thing I can conclude, is that there are very few of us (if any) who eat, simply to keep the motor running. People eat because they're bored, stressed, depressed, angry, upset, happy, celebrating- and the irony of it is- that it is for these exact reasons that people STOP eating. I think the best approach parents can take for their children, is to actually educate them about what they are putting into their mouths. As a child, junk food was something that was never really in my house. I remember going to my best friend’s house when I was about 7 and there were all these packets of chips. I’ve never been so excited in my life and I asked if we could have some. She didn’t really seem interested in the chips- because they were always there. I think kids that are surrounded by a large variety of food and actually appreciate different types of food don’t grow up with the relationship that kids who aren’t allowed other types of food do. Granted, my best friend was Italian (who I believe have a much greater appreciation for food that Australians) but because it was always there, if that food was eaten, there was no feeling of rebellion attached to it. Kind of like the parents of kids who enjoy a glass of wine with dinner. They’ve done research and found these kids are less likely to binge drink than kids who aren’t surrounded my alcohol- because it’s not seen as something rebellious- because it’s always been around them.

But what would I know? I'm only 20.

By: Craig Harper

Craig Harper — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 06:53:00 +0000

Hey Kelly.
Thanks for the feedback.
Keep doing what you need to do to create your best life.

I'm cheering you on.

By: Craig Harper

Craig Harper — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 06:51:00 +0000

Hello Anonymous.
I think we’re seeing a (gradual) shift now in the priorities in schools (ie. health education, canteen options and fitness programs) .. unfortunately, it’s all happening too slowly for my liking..if there ain’t a big(ger) shift soon, the next generation of kids will be the first with a shorter life expectancy.
Amazing that our society is so educated and so stupid.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 06:05:00 +0000

Hi Craig

I found your article alarmingly true and as an ex childcare worker i too am horrified of the way parents today feed their children. It is not just the obesity issue that we must consider but also i believe the continually fluctuating behavioural syndromes which are forever appearing such as ADD. I am aware that their is a number of valid ADD sufferers, however i am also inclined to believe that if we improved the eating and exercise habits of our children their would be less need to medicate. I also believe that due to the society we live in today, many parents feed their children junk out of guilt (guilt of not being around) and that the lack of family unit as such and communication breakdown between generations has lead to our children finding solace in food. I too have battled with my weight throughout my childhood and still today as a twenty three year old find it ddifficult to stand away from my less healithy inclined friends and attempt to lead a healty and active lifestyle. Since discovering your site, i am however much more aware of what i am actually doing wrong and why i always seem to fall off. Cheers for the site it is a godsent. Kelly.