The Fat Acceptance/Fat Celebration movement is chock full of morons at all times, but they really deeply disturb me when they start harming children. I’ve seen other examples of this including many people postulating that it is abuse to regulate your child’s diet, but this is just one I found today.
Despite what the article claims — wrongly — the evidence is pretty clear that being an overweight or (especially) an obese child makes later adulthood obesity more likely and leads directly to other health problems.
More evidence here (check the citations, too.)
This is just unconscionable. These people are fine when they harm themselves but when they start hurting defenseless people is when they should be made to shut the fuck up. And perhaps be arrested for child abuse.
I agree completely! It makes my heart stop when I see people so blithely and joyfully spreading around mythology that is very hurtful to children. Child obesity is a horrible problem. And no amount of ranting against the BMI measurements will change that. Just walk by any middle school and look at the kids. Can anybody really argue that there is no problem there?
Not only is it directly harmful in a health sense, but if as a parent you can help your child avoid obesity just for the reasons of not being picked on or bullied, you should.
Because I was extensively bullied. Not for being obese, but for being poor, smart and nerdy and I can tell you, just about anything is better than that.
Yes, other kids shouldn’t shame or bully but that’s a lot less easy to control than what a child eats at home.