Pediatricians enlisted to combat childhood obesity

"JG" wrote
Pediatricians enlisted to combat childhood obesity
Pediatricians can urge parents to limit children's television watching
to two hours a day, encourage exercise, and promote dietary alternatives
to high-fat snacks and soft drinks at home and at school.

I think the peds are a little mixed up about whether fat in foods is
a problem. Soft drinks are very low-fat snacks.

In many cases, one or both parents may be obese, and pediatricians
should consider genetic factors that can predispose children to gaining
excessive amounts of weight.

Consider it how? I don't think that such genetic factors have even
been identified. What is the ped going to say -- "You're too fat.
If your husband is also a fatso, then you shouldn't have any more
kids because they'll probably become obese also."??

Just telling women to breastfeed not enough: study

What's next -- breastfeeding mandates?

"Roger Schlafly" wrote in message
t...
"JG" wrote

In many cases, one or both parents may be obese, and pediatricians
should consider genetic factors that can predispose children to
gaining
excessive amounts of weight.

Consider it how? I don't think that such genetic factors have even
been identified. What is the ped going to say -- "You're too fat.
If your husband is also a fatso, then you shouldn't have any more
kids because they'll probably become obese also."??

I hope anyone to whom such a comment was made would shoot back, "You're
an arrogant fill in your favorite profane epithet. If your spouse is
also..."

Just telling women to breastfeed not enough: study

What's next -- breastfeeding mandates?

Hehehe. Maybe some peds just want to check out the, er, mammary glands:
"Women need to be coached at length on how..."

"JG" wrote
I hope anyone to whom such a comment was made would shoot back, "You're
an arrogant fill in your favorite profane epithet. If your spouse is
also..."

It could be worse than getting a condescending lecture about fat kids.
Here in California, the hospitals do stomach-shrinking surgery on
fat kids. Sometimes even "irreversible stomach stapling".
http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercuryne...al/6455652.htm

Obesity is a well-documented and growing problem in the US and other
countries. Obesity leads to several well-documented problems, like premature
heart-attacks, strokes, arthritis, diabetes as well as to higher health-care
costs.

Will you please provide some better ideas on how to deal with this problem?

Children benefit from breastfeeding. Breast-fed children has fewer colds,
fewer allergies and fewer ear infections. Breast feeding also increases
mother-child bonding. What do you recommend pediatricians and other docs do?
Aren't pediatricians paid partly to offer advice? No one is forcing anyone
to breast-feed or do anything she doesn't want to.

Jeff

"Roger Schlafly" wrote in message
et...
"JG" wrote
I hope anyone to whom such a comment was made would shoot back, "You're
an arrogant fill in your favorite profane epithet. If your spouse is
also..."

It could be worse than getting a condescending lecture about fat kids.
Here in California, the hospitals do stomach-shrinking surgery on
fat kids. Sometimes even "irreversible stomach stapling".
http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercuryne...al/6455652.htm

Incorrect. The hospitals will do surgery on OBESE kids. Not just fat kids.
Kids who are so fat that their weight is a major health problem.

So what are you suggesting? That hospitals are to tell parents of obese kids
that the parents are not allowed to choose surgery if that is what the
parents want?

Jeff

Roger Schlafly wrote:

I think the peds are a little mixed up about whether fat in foods is
a problem. Soft drinks are very low-fat snacks.

Apparently, there is a relationship between amount of juice/soft drink
consumption and obesity.

On Mon, 04 Aug 2003 20:33:00 GMT, "Roger Schlafly"
wrote:

"JG" wrote
Pediatricians enlisted to combat childhood obesity
Pediatricians can urge parents to limit children's television watching
to two hours a day, encourage exercise, and promote dietary alternatives
to high-fat snacks and soft drinks at home and at school.

I think the peds are a little mixed up about whether fat in foods is
a problem. Soft drinks are very low-fat snacks.

You think wrong, moron. Perhaps if you actually read the Policy
Statement you'd see that the Committee on Nutrition refers to soft
drinks as among the "energy-dense, nutrient-poor food products."
Editorial errors or poor writing by the Reuters Health staff do not
reflect on the pediatricians' statement, which is well written and
sound. When you read a newspaper headlines about the "flesh eating
virus," do you proclaim that microbiologists are "a little mixed up?"

Besides, Reuters probably meant "[high-fat snacks] and [soft drinks]."

In many cases, one or both parents may be obese, and pediatricians
should consider genetic factors that can predispose children to gaining
excessive amounts of weight.

Consider it how? I don't think that such genetic factors have even
been identified. What is the ped going to say -- "You're too fat.
If your husband is also a fatso, then you shouldn't have any more
kids because they'll probably become obese also."??

Here we go again. You idiots (Roger and JG, specifically) ridicule the
Policy Statement when you don't even understand it (and clearly
haven't even read it), then invent potential patient encounters based
on your misunderstanding, and even get angry about them when they're
all part of your ridiculous fantasies. You can keep jacking each other
off with what you think this is all about but you just look foolish to
the rest of us.

Roger, as usual, probably thinks he looks smart by "questioning"
statements made by pediatricians when in fact his questions stem from
pure ignorance. He has no medical training and does not practice
pediatrics, yet he questions a statement made by pediatricians
addressed to other pediatricians about how to consider genetic factors
in obesity, asking how to do so. Roger, perhaps you don't know how to,
not because, as you "think" that no such factors have been identified,
but perhaps it's because (a) you're not a pediatrician, and/or (b)
you're an idiot.

Here's an excerpt from the Policy Statement (ask me for help with the
big words, Roger):

Genetic conditions known to be associated with propensity for obesity
include Prader-Willi syndrome, Bardet-Biedl syndrome, and Cohen
syndrome. In these conditions, early diagnosis allows collaboration
with subspecialists, such as geneticists, endocrinologists,
behavioralists, and nutritionists, to optimize growth and development
while promoting healthy eating and activity patterns from a young age.
For example, data suggest that growth hormone may improve some of the
signs of Prader-Willi syndrome.49–51

It has long been recognized that obesity "runs in families"—high birth
weight, maternal diabetes, and obesity in family members all are
factors—but there are likely to be multiple genes and a strong
interaction between genetics and environment that influence the degree
of adiposity.47,48,52,53 For young children, if 1 parent is obese, the
odds ratio is approximately 3 for obesity in adulthood, but if both
parents are obese, the odds ratio increases to more than 10. Before 3
years of age, parental obesity is a stronger predictor of obesity in
adulthood than the child’s weight status.54 Such observations have
important implications for recognition of risk and routine
anticipatory guidance that is directed toward healthy eating and
activity patterns in families.

Example: If both parents are clearly over 300 lbs., but are pleased
that little Johnny isn't fat yet at age 3, and are happy to feed him
garbage because they think he won't be, they need more guidance.
Conversely, if two skinny parents bring in a slender 3-year-old child
who still drinks whole milk, I don't think the child needs to switch
to 2% milk. You see, Roger, I am considering genetic factors and
tailoring my anticipatory guidance appropriately.

I am glad to see this policy statement, as I am the only pediatrician
I know who plots every patient's BMI and shows it to the family. Our
questionnaire has a question, "Are you concerned about your child's
weight or eating habits?" Usually when I plot the BMI and it comes out
high, I look over at that question and it's invariably marked "Yes."

What is particularly telling is that when the BMI is climbing before
age 5 (it usually decreases and hits its nadir after age 5), this is a
strong indicator of adult obesity, even if the BMI is still "normal."
I will show parents the growth chart and indicate how the BMI usually
goes given the pattern so far, and for many it is an eye-opener. Most
obese parents in my practice are interested in keeping their kids from
being obese and are not, contrary to JG's belief, insulted that I
would talk about it. It would be ridiculous for me to start talking to
the parents about it only after they become obese, as it is far, far
more difficult to lose weight than to prevent excess weight gain in
the first place.

By the way, JG, I had a dad who was new to my practice today ask me
why I didn't remind his son to wear a bicycle helmet at the end of his
check-up today. I guess I slipped a little in my insulting routine!
I'll have to be more careful!

PF

"PF Riley" wrote
It has long been recognized that obesity "runs in families"-high birth
weight, maternal diabetes, and obesity in family members all are
factors-but there are likely to be multiple genes and a strong ...
to 2% milk. You see, Roger, I am considering genetic factors and
tailoring my anticipatory guidance appropriately.

From your previous messages on the subject, I would have
guessed that you subscribe to the environmental theory -- that
fat parents teach lousy eating habit to kids, and that is what
makes the kids fat.

By the way, JG, I had a dad who was new to my practice today ask me
why I didn't remind his son to wear a bicycle helmet at the end of his
check-up today. I guess I slipped a little in my insulting routine!
I'll have to be more careful!

Maybe he was being sarcastic. When my dentist fails to give me
a lecture on flossing my teeth, I wonder if something is wrong with him.

On Tue, 05 Aug 2003 06:08:32 GMT, "Roger Schlafly"
wrote:

"PF Riley" wrote
It has long been recognized that obesity "runs in families"-high birth
weight, maternal diabetes, and obesity in family members all are
factors-but there are likely to be multiple genes and a strong ...
to 2% milk. You see, Roger, I am considering genetic factors and
tailoring my anticipatory guidance appropriately.

From your previous messages on the subject, I would have
guessed that you subscribe to the environmental theory -- that
fat parents teach lousy eating habit to kids, and that is what
makes the kids fat.

It is usually a combination of both environmental and genetic factors.

PF

Your Help is Desperatly Needed to Stop Lead Poisoning in Children!
Hello MY Name is Shelly,
I'm writing this message in the hope of getting signatures/names for my crusade
against Lead Poisoning in Children. My 4 Children ( Brandon 5, Marissah 4,
Thomas 22 mos., and Jacob 6 mos.) were tested positive for lead poisoning! upon
testing of my appartment, we found that there were high levels of Lead!....
Each night as i layed my children down to sleep in their beds,i would watch
them kneel at the side of their beds to say their prayers,I would kiss them
goodnightand tuck them saftly into their beds so i thought.
Little did i Know that their rooms were where i left them each night to sleep
was loaded with lead! The one place i thought they were safe and sound,
Poisoned them!
My babies, My Sweet, innocent babies...I called everywhere i could think to
solve this matter, i even called my local Health Department. They informed me
that unless my childrens lead levels reach the dangerous level of 20 or above
they could not help me! i was so upset, i felt that no one cared about the
safty of my children but myself!
SO I made a vow to my children that i would fight the lagal system to have the
lead levels reduced.... Knowing that if i waited till their lead levels reached
20 they would already be suffering for the lead nad could experience learning
disabilities, Brain Damage and even Death in some cases!
I need to help my children and other Children!
and your help can put us one step closer to doing this!
below in an email address you can respond to, simply drop me a quick email and
tell me to put your name on the list!
Please also provide your email, the city and State you live in.
by signing this petition we can get these lead levels lowered! PLEASE WE REALLY
NEED YOUR HELP!
Signed,
Shelly In New York