Deseret News | BYU study: Kids' shows 'weigh in' respectfully

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BYU study: Kids' shows 'weigh in' respectfully

Eye Dee Ten Tee | 1:38 a.m. July 1, 2008

Yeah, yeah. Eat, drink and be happy, for tomorrow we'll be 200 pound ten year olds. But we'll be happy, and no one will bother us.

Maybe we should go back to the happy days when there were social stigmata against child obesity, teen pregnancy, ignorance and apathy. Now, when children and their parents make poor health decisions, they are told that nothings wrong.

I'm not suggesting a return to hazing and bullying. But telling a 200 pound ten year old that he or she would be happier if they put down the twinkies and game boys and went outside to play.

But hey, if Hanna Montana and Disney says it's ok, who are we to question? I'm counting the days till this 'role model' is on the front cover of the tabloids. She and Disney are not performing for altruistic motives. They are doing it for the money.

Obesity rules | 1:54 a.m. July 1, 2008

Wouldn't a more caring role model say "You're a quality person, but it's not ok to be overweight"? With high fructose corn syrup in everything from snack foods to 'sports' drinks, 1,000 calorie meals for less than 2.99 at your favorite fast food joint, and the sedintary lifestyle that comes with hours spent with video games and computers every day, the youth today just keep getting bigger and bigger. Telling a youngster in a kindly manner that it's healthy to loose some weight should not be considered unpolitacally correct.

That being said, there is no reason to be as kind and polite to the parents who abuse their children with unhealty foods. Stop being cruel to your children.

disillusioned | 8:09 a.m. July 1, 2008

I know...why don't we tell children that it's okay to be horribly prejudiced and rude like you 2!!! That will help the world! I think it's about time that children's shows reinforced that people can be good people NO MATTER WHAT SIZE, SHAPE, COLOR, ETC. THEY ARE!!!! Obesity is not the problem: ignorance and bigotry are the problems!!!! All I can say is that I'm glad I'm not the child of the 2 people making comments above. I'm glad at least children's TV is teaching children to care about people first and for most, rather than try to make them what YOU think they should be (or look like)!

Comments continue below

High Fructose Greed | 8:17 a.m. July 1, 2008

For whatever reason, high fructose corn syrup is in a lot more than snacks, candy, and sports drinks. It is found in bread, ketchup, pickles, crackers, and a long list of other standard grocery items. The problem with this sweetener is in the body's ability to control its effect over a long period of use. It wasn't used in the first half of the last century. Combine that with low-metabolism games and jobs and you can become overweight without even trying. Unfortunately, the convenience for manufacturers, the supply and demands of our society, and other factors far outweigh any advise or controls of the FDA or medical profession.

Overall, it is driven by profit.

Just Me | 8:19 a.m. July 1, 2008

Not showing an overweight child or even adult being treated like they are a bumbling idiot or showing them constantly ridiculed is not telling them its okay to be overweight. An overweight person KNOWS they are fat. I don't need you telling me I am, or your snide little comments. It really doesn't encourage someone to lose weight, its pretty much the opposite. Treat people with dignity and respect.

to disillusoned | 8:22 a.m. July 1, 2008

You are obviously overweight and don't see the consequences of that particular bad choice. Calling people prejudiced because they choose to be healthy and want children to be healthy also perpetuates the "let's all be fat and happy" attitude that is so prevalent in today's society. It's NOT okay for a child to be overweight. (or an adult for that matter) The healthy choices are out there -- let's help them to make those. P.S. I'd better go for a run now.

Dr. | 8:34 a.m. July 1, 2008

Um, disillusioned, actually obesity IS the problem. Cases of adult-onset diabetes in this country are skyrocketing as more and more overweight children develop it at earlier and earlier ages. As obese children reach adulthood they are often in need of critical medical care - the number of open-heart surgeries performed on people in their 20's has tripled in the past decade and is expected to triple again in the next decade because of childhood obesity.

Nobody's saying we need to stigmatize or make fun of obese children. But to tell obese children that being obese is OK and they don't have to change is just plain irresponsible......in my opinion, it is the equivalent of child abuse.

Butt of jokes? | 8:39 a.m. July 1, 2008

"Butt of jokes?" "Wide and diverse audience?" Was he trying to be funny, or just lucky? Seems to me "21 percent overweight characters, 46 percent average weight, and 33 percent thin characters" is in no way representative of today's weights, and would be a vast improvement on today's real numbers.

I agree with "Dr."

Shouldn't someone be saying, "You are heading towards a cliff!!!" not, "I'm OK, your OK, let's have a pack of Oreos."

Pot and Kettle | 9:30 a.m. July 1, 2008

Everyone agrees that childhood obesity is a "bigger" problem than it used to be. This whole study and the comments revolve around how the kids are protrayed in the media and specifically television.

While there are some obvious merits to a study like this wouldn't there be a greater benefit from studying how to prevent this epidemic? As of right now kids learn many of their habits from their parents. Wouldn't it be interesting to see what kinds of eating and exercising habits the parents had? How many of us fall into the obese category and have just accepted it? Why do we expect our children to be any different?

Interestingly... | 9:53 a.m. July 1, 2008

Disney Channel has joined Sesame Street in trying to convey more positive eating ideas (see their "Pass the Plate" campaign that promotes healthy eating habits and world culture understanding).
I appreciate their help in conveying that healthy can be fun & good! I think the kids of today need to see how they can eat healthy -- I know as a parent, I run out of ideas!

Proud Preggo Woman | 9:58 a.m. July 1, 2008

Growing up my Dad told me that I should look like Christi Yamaguchi (spelling is most likely off- sorry). I ate healthy foods, jumped on my trampoline for hours a day, rode my bike 1-2 miles everyday, and yet I was still overweight- in his eyes. I was by no means skinny but I know I wasn't overweight either. I tried dieting to try and get "skinny" and all that did was make my body put on more weight.

My point in all of this is to let you know that not everyone's body types are the same. I will never look like Christi Yamaguchi, but I can be just as beautiful looking like myself. And expecting our children to look like a certain type of people isn't going to help them any.

We just need to do what we can for our children. Don't ever tell your children they are too fat. That won't solve the problem. Instead just change the meals that you eat, exercise together (make it a family affair), and just have fun. And have your kids spend less time in front of their electronics.

Fuming Mom | 11:11 a.m. July 1, 2008

My daughter is almost 14 and was diagnosed with an endocrine disorder. We only found out about it because of her rapid weight gain. She was always active and ate well, but the pounds starting piling on. For some children, it is about lifestyle, but for others, it is about nature. We do what we can, but for her, weight will always be a battle. She already feels ostracized because she isn't the "pretty, skinny girl" (and she is beautiful!) I looked up body types online and showed her that all women are built differently, and that women DO have curves and that not all men like skinny girls. It is difficult enough dealing with her medical issues, but then the world throws in her face the fact that she isn't perfect enough for them. Fortunately, she understands that there is more to life and being a whole person than the number on the scale. We encourage her to develop the inside as well as the outside. I'm all for encouraging healthy lifestyles, but sometimes it isn't what you say, it's how you say it. Think before you speak, and put the kids first.
Thanks.

Eye Dee Ten Tee | 9:17 p.m. July 1, 2008

Fuming Mom;
I have read no comments here blaming the children, nor advocating teasing them because they are overweight. To do so is cruel and insensitive. But when I see a 'parent' hand a child a 3600 calorie box of cheezits so she won't be bothered with providing a healthy snack, I fume too. That is child abuse. The children don't have the ability to judge what is healthy, nor the will power to just eat one serving out of a 20 serving box. Shame on you parents who don't love your children enough to tell them no unhealthy snacks. Get off your lazy ____ and fix them a salad, then go outside and play soccer or baseball with them.

ThinMaN | 2:13 p.m. July 3, 2008

In some ways, I'm inclined to think that this is actually going to have a negative effect on children. Why, you ask? The reason is briefly touched on by previous commentators here; telling children that obesity is okay prevents them from trying to change.

At least when obese characters are portrayed in slightly negative light, it gives children the incentive to at least try to keep fit. Otherwise they go through life thinking there is no problem with being heavier, when in fact the health detriment is significant. It's nice to only take up one seat in the movie theater, too...

That said, I think the REAL solution would be to involve negative connotations with the excessively thin characters as well. Everyone knows that it is not healthy to be either too thin or too heavy, and so a negative spin on both extremes would foster a desire to be the ideal average weight in a child's mind.

Sure, it's not the nicest thing to say. Children shouldn't feel insecure about themselves. But to deny that there IS, in fact, a CORRECT body-type with regard to all our knowledge regarding the human body is just ignorant.

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