rbaker
07-03-2006, 01:12 PM
Recent article from http://apnews.myway.com/article/20060702/D8IK12IO0.html
Experts Debate Labeling Children Obese
Jul 2, 2:31 PM (ET)
By LINDSEY TANNER
CHICAGO (AP) - Is it OK for doctors and parents to tell children and teens they're fat?
That seems to be at the heart of a debate over whether to replace the fuzzy language favored by the U.S. government with the painful truth - telling kids if they're obese or overweight.
Labeling a child obese might "run the risk of making them angry, making the family angry," but it addresses a serious issue head-on, said Dr. Reginald Washington, a Denver pediatrician and co-chair of an American Academy of Pediatrics obesity task force.
"If that same person came into your office and had cancer, or was anemic, or had an ear infection, would we be having the same conversation? There are a thousand reasons why this obesity epidemic is so out of control, and one of them is no one wants to talk about it."
The diplomatic approach adopted by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and used by many doctors avoids the word "obese" because of the stigma. The CDC also calls overweight kids "at risk of overweight."
Those favoring a change say the current terms encourage denial of a problem affecting increasing numbers of U.S. youngsters.
Back in my day obese children were called fatty, fatso, lard ***, short fat and squatty – all butt no body and many other names. My contention is that most fat kids put down the groceries rather than being taunted in the school yard and playground. Back in the good old days when we insulted our fat classmates we were actually saving their lives. This PC crap is killing people.
What do you think?
Experts Debate Labeling Children Obese
Jul 2, 2:31 PM (ET)
By LINDSEY TANNER
CHICAGO (AP) - Is it OK for doctors and parents to tell children and teens they're fat?
That seems to be at the heart of a debate over whether to replace the fuzzy language favored by the U.S. government with the painful truth - telling kids if they're obese or overweight.
Labeling a child obese might "run the risk of making them angry, making the family angry," but it addresses a serious issue head-on, said Dr. Reginald Washington, a Denver pediatrician and co-chair of an American Academy of Pediatrics obesity task force.
"If that same person came into your office and had cancer, or was anemic, or had an ear infection, would we be having the same conversation? There are a thousand reasons why this obesity epidemic is so out of control, and one of them is no one wants to talk about it."
The diplomatic approach adopted by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and used by many doctors avoids the word "obese" because of the stigma. The CDC also calls overweight kids "at risk of overweight."
Those favoring a change say the current terms encourage denial of a problem affecting increasing numbers of U.S. youngsters.
Back in my day obese children were called fatty, fatso, lard ***, short fat and squatty – all butt no body and many other names. My contention is that most fat kids put down the groceries rather than being taunted in the school yard and playground. Back in the good old days when we insulted our fat classmates we were actually saving their lives. This PC crap is killing people.
What do you think?