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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Dr. Beth Steinhauer on May 31, 2006, at 10:56:04
An essay by Harriet Brown, in yesterday's Science Times section of the New York Times, is titled "Well-Intentioned Food Police May Create Havoc with Children's Diets."
go to:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/30/health/nutrition/30essa.html?pagewanted=printWhat do you think?
Posted by Racer on May 31, 2006, at 23:20:47
In reply to Well-Intentioned Food Police... NY Times article, posted by Dr. Beth Steinhauer on May 31, 2006, at 10:56:04
What do I think... I think a lot of things, not one of which is complimentary to the lackwits who came up with these rules.
Huh?
Oh, yeah, specifics...
First of all, I have to admit that what the families of anorexics say about the whole "obesity epidemic" focus triggering symptomology. I was anorexic long before people were talking about obesity everywhere, but even into my late thirties/early forties it still got to me. Every time I heard another news item about The Obesity Epidemic, I would think, "There -- that's proof that I need to lose a little more, to give myself a little wiggle room between here and obesity..." And those commercials for weight loss products?
But the whole concept of food police in schools bothers me a great deal. We've got the peanut bans around here in California, and it's true that peanut allergies are very dangerous. But banning PB&Js for everyone, because maybe one or two kids are allergic? Nope. Not appropriate. Banning cupcakes for birthdays? That's only going to lead to hurt feelings. No seconds? Uh... OK -- way to teach a kid to restrict.
As long as food is a moral issue, and not nutritional sustenance, there will be eating disorders. Whether it's Anorexia Nervosa, or Bulimia Nervosa, or Binge Eating Disorder, or just turning to food for comfort and then feeling guilty about it -- that's what the schools are teaching when they play Food Police.
And do you have an opinion on it? :^)
Posted by Dr. Beth Steinhauer on June 2, 2006, at 12:16:43
In reply to Re: Well-Intentioned Food Police... NY Times artic, posted by Racer on May 31, 2006, at 23:20:47
I agree with you, and with the perspective of the essayist. Food allergies are one thing, and sometimes when kids have potentially lethal food allergies, schools must set guidelines to protect the safety of those kids. However, I share your concerns about limiting access to seconds, etc. We DO have a serious obesity problem in this country, and more and more children are affected. It makes sense to make accessible healthy, nutritious, and yummy foods for all kids, to make it less likely that they'll subsist on soda and French fries. It also makes a lot of sense to me for ALL of our kids to get more active. We know that TV and computer games have contributed to increased childhood obesity, and it's just good preventive medicine for all kids to be active and fit.
The reason I posted this link is that I share your concern (and the journalist's concern) that well-meaning school and public health authorities may inadvertently reinforce some problematic concepts, e.g. "good" and "bad" foods. I also have some concerns about handing out kids' BMIs with their report cards. ES
Posted by Racer on June 2, 2006, at 13:17:03
In reply to Re: Well-Intentioned Food Police... NY Times artic, posted by Dr. Beth Steinhauer on June 2, 2006, at 12:16:43
> It also makes a lot of sense to me for ALL of our kids to get more active. We know that TV and computer games have contributed to increased childhood obesity, and it's just good preventive medicine for all kids to be active and fit.
>Ah, yes -- one of my mini-soapbox issues. Education in general is a big soapbox for me, and the lack of any sort of physical education program for most kids is a large step onto my platform. Another step is the whole, "You need EXERCISE" message -- no, kids need PLAY! They need to have fun and play, in a physically active way. Exercise has to be a side benefit of fun for kids, otherwise they'll never develop lifelong exercise habits. These days, though, with Every Child Left Behind, there's so much emphasis on standardized testing that there's no time for PE, even if there was funding for it.
I'm glad I'm not a kid today. Hard as it was when I was young, it's just so much harder now.
Thank you for posting the links. It's always good to see your name on here, I'm glad you visit.
This is the end of the thread.
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