The Changing Perspective of Overweight Kids
I remember going to school as a child and how overweight kids were treated. For the most part, they were subjected to a large amount of teasing and scrutiny from some of their peers. At times, taunting and making fun on the playground was even ignored by teachers because the teachers were somewhat ignorant of the overweight kids’ situation. Fitness camps were referred to as “fat camps.” Of course, this was in the days where one or two kids in each class had some weight issues and stood out from the rest of the class.
Today, things are different. Childhood obesity rates have climbed at increasing rates year over year to the point that nearly half of the kids in a given classroom today are living above their healthy weight range. It’s almost tough to say what an “average” sized child is anymore. Perhaps in part due to the rise in childhood obesity, we’re also beginning to see more and more parents become too obessed with keeping their kids from becoming overweight that they’re too skinny.
So what’s the point? Well, for parents of overweight children, there may be some comfort in the fact that their kids likely aren’t being teased nearly as much as the “fat kids” did when they were growing up. But, with so many overweight kids these days, there’s almost a “comfort in numbers” effect that might make those same parents and kids feel like there’s no need to lose weight, when in fact there is.
So, in the end, what needs to happen is parents need to take the necessary steps to empower their kids to make the right choices because society doesn’t really tell them that being overweight is “bad.” Places like teen weight loss camps are great for doing this. Professional counselors and dieticians can help kids learn how to make the kinds of healthy living choices (on their own), without having to be begged by their parents. Further, empowering the kids to make these decisions on their own builds self confidence and gives them the knowledge and confidence to make these decisions away from home around their friends and peers.
Although it is probably a good thing that overweight kids aren’t teased as much today as they used to be, it is most certainly not a good thing that there are more overweight kids today than ever before. As good parents, it is important to keep an eye on what is really important – their health – not their popularity at school.
