Would You Put Your “Fat” Baby On a Diet?

Thursday, December 2nd, 2010

Some parents would surprisingly say ‘yes,’ according to a new report from ABC’s Good Morning America. As Goodyblog noted in our Daily News Roundup on Tuesday, eating disorders among children under the age of 10 are on the rise. Sadly, America’s obsession with the notion that “thin is in” is being heavily projected onto even our youngest members of society—including those under a year old.

Dr. Jatinder Bhatia, who chairs the nutrition committee of the American Academy of Pediatrics, told GMA that many fat-fearing parents are projecting their own physical insecurities onto their small children: “I have seen parents putting their infant and 1 year old on diets because of history in one parent or another.” He recommends that, instead of putting an infant on a diet, parents breastfeed and and schedule regular visits with their child’s pediatrician in order to give babies a healthy start.

The GMA report goes on to mention one extreme couple in Seattle who went so far as to put laxatives in their infant daughter’s bottle in an effort to prevent her from gaining weight. They were eventually found guilty of starving the baby, and according to court documents, after the little girl was placed in foster care and was able to gain weight, her mother responded by crying, “Oh my God, she’s fat” and “I have a fat baby.” Proof, if you needed it, of Dr. Bhatia’s earlier point that a parent’s personal issues with weight can seriously affect and/or influence that person’s children.

For helpful information on weight and infancy, check out:

Smart Answers to Common Feeding Questions

Quiz: Baby Nutrition Test

Can a Baby Be Too Fat?

Your Guide to Baby’s Weight Gain

Where do you stand on this issue? Have you ever worried about your baby’s weight and/or would you go so far as to put your little one on a diet? 

Daily News Roundup

Wednesday, December 1st, 2010

DNA spit test springs girl, 12, from scoliosis brace
New research published in the journal Spine reports that the test is 99 percent accurate in predicting which sufferers of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, or AIS, are least likely to develop curves serious enough to require surgery. (MSNBC)

Lowe’s recalls 11 million blinds for strangulation risk
Lowe’s Stores are recalling about 11 million Roman shades and roll-up blinds after reports that two young children nearly strangled in the window coverings, the Consumer Product  Safety Commission announced today. (MSNBC)

How much vitamin D is enough? Report sets new levels
For the past few years vitamin D has been the “it” vitamin, with studies wildly trumpeting the supplement’s role in strengthening bones, reducing the risk of some cancers, heart disease, along with fighting autoimmune diseases and diabetes. But long-awaited new dietary guidelines say there’s no proof that megadoses of the “sunshine vitamin” prevent cancer, diabetes or other conditions. (MSNBC)

Most meds for kids have inaccurate dosing
Researchers looked at 200 of the top-selling nonprescription liquid medications on shelves and found that nearly all had inconsistent directions: The labels on the devices for measuring doses didn’t match up with the dosing instructions. (MSNBC)
(more…)

Could Your Child Be Stressed?

Monday, November 15th, 2010

Your young child can be more stressed than you think.  A new survey from the American Psychological Association reveals that kids as young as 8 are experiencing stress as a result of their parents’ stress.  For kids ages 8-12 with stressed parents, the survey showed that 47% feel sad, 36% feel worried, and 25% feel frustrated. 

In particular, overweight and obese children reported feeling more stress because of their parents than children with average weight.  As a result, the obese and overweight children experienced negative emotional and physical affects that included eating more, having trouble sleeping, getting headaches, and fighting with others. 

Parents seem unaware of their children’s stress.  The survey also discovered 69% of parents believed their stress didn’t impact the children, but 91% of children reported otherwise.  Also, children were less likely to reach out to their parents to talk about the stress or to maintain their health by eating well or exercising.

In order for families to continue growing closer, healthy changes need to be made to improve physical, emotional, and mental health.

Daily News Roundup

Tuesday, November 9th, 2010

Low blood levels of Vitamin D linked to chubbier kids, faster weight gain - Kids who are deficient in vitamin D accumulated fat around the waist and gained weight more rapidly than kids who got enough vitamin D, a new University of Michigan study suggests. [Science Daily]

Fearless children show less empathy, more aggression - Preschool-aged children who demonstrate fearless behavior also reveal less empathy and more aggression towards their peers. This has been shown in a new study that was carried out at the University of Haifa’s Faculty of Education. “The results of this study show that fearless behavior in children can be identified and is related to neurological and genetic predisposition. This type of behavior has less correlation at least in infancy with standards of educational processes or parenting practice,” says Dr. Inbal Kivenson-Baron, who carried out the study. [Medical News Today]

Breastfeeding moms don’t get less or worse sleep than moms who use formula, study finds - Breastfed infants are reported to awaken more often and to sleep less. But does that mean breastfeeding mothers get less sleep, too? Not necessarily, according to the study, “Infant Feeding Methods and Maternal Sleep and Daytime Functioning,” in the December issue of Pediatrics. [Medical News Today]

New research highlights importance of parent-child communication to combat obesity - As part of its proprietary survey program, Student ViewPOINT™, ARAMARK Education, a leading provider of school food and nutrition services, surveyed almost 40,000 middle school and high school students across the country. The research revealed that parent-child communication has a significant influence on the nutrition habits of children. [The Medical News]

World’s Biggest Toddler Banned from School

Wednesday, October 20th, 2010

Photo Credit: CEN/The Sun

What if your child was—literally—too big to attend school?

A 3-year-old boy in the Guangzhou region of southern China was  banned from the preschool he was attending for being a “health hazard” to other children.  Despite being named Xiao Hao (“xiao” means “small” in Mandarin Chinese), there is nothing small about the boy—he weighs a whopping 140 lbs., nearly five times more than the average preschooler, making him the tallest and heaviest kid in his class and in the world.

Xiao Hao’s parents were able to find another preschool willing to let their son attend.  They are also seeking medical help for their son to maintain good physical and heart health.  Some doctors believe Xiao Hao may have a growth hormone disorder that is causing him to increase at an unusual rate.  Others believe he is the sad result of “Little Emperor Syndrome,” when parents and relatives overindulge their kids as a result of China’s one-child policy.

Do you think it was right for the school to ban Xiao Hao?  Would you let your child attend school with him?

>> Take Our Quiz: Is Your Child at Risk for Becoming Overweight?