Strollerderby : fat

When Your Kid's Report Card Says They're Fat

JeanneSager — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 18:01:00 GMT

The "B" on your kid's report card could soon stand for Body Mass Index.

The Massachusetts Public Health Council has OK'd a proposal that will have schools measuring students' weight and height and sending report cards home to parents that warn them when their kids are overweight.

It's actually just the latest in a string of states that measure kids' BMI (eighteen in total do so), and a growing number that are sending the results home to the parents. Dubbed Mass in Motion, the Massachusetts program is aimed at lowering rates of childhood obesity - and parents will have the chance to opt out if they want to.

I am already prepared for the response of some parents - BMI isn't not an accurate representation of whether or not someone is overweight. And they're right. But the breakdown can be helpful, especially for parents who see the pediatrician only once a year with their kids, when it's time for the well visit. Sudden spikes or drops in weight can be signs of illness in kids, signs of depression or drug abuse too. Catch the warning signs early, and you might prevent your kids from future harm.

Parents would also do well to know a little more about their child's health. Studies have shown that parents often fail to recognize that their kids are overweight - be it because they have problems with weight themselves, are in denial or simply don't notice a change because they see their kids every day (where a grandparent who sees them monthly might notice a big difference in that time span).

How would you feel if you got this kind of report? Would it bother you to have the school stepping in?

Image: Go Healthy Go Fit

They Say: Skinny Women Aren't Happy

KeriF — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 21:28:00 GMT

You always suspected it, right? That skinny mom you see every day at preschool drop-off, the one with the tight jeans and impossibly sculpted shoulders. She may look hot, but deep down, way deep down, under her perfectly manicured fingernails and artfully disheveled 'do, you know she's not happy. Skinny people have to be miserable. It's only fair, right?

According to a new research study, it may not be fair, but it is true.

The study by cereal brand Special K found that the happiest women wear a British size 14 (U.S. size 12). They're not hefty by any standards, but they are a far cry from what beauty mags seem to tout as the "normal" size 0.

More than a third of the size-14 women said they "couldn't be more content" with their love lives, and almost half were happy with their careers.

Second happiest women? Size 12.

Clearly, the skinny women are miserable because they're hungry all the time.

More by this Author:

Biggest Loser's Having a Baby, Gaining Weight

JeanneSager — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 19:02:00 GMT

They're one of two couples to lose a lot of weight on the Biggest Loser but gain a spouse. Now Marty Wolff and wife Amy Hildreth Wolff are having a baby. Is it any wonder she's a little worried about her weight?

The Wolffs met on season three of the NBC show, and they opted to leave their old jobs behind to run a weight loss and "self-improvement" program to capitalize on their fame and keep themselves accountable (to help keep off the weight). They lost a combined weight of two hundred fifty-two pounds, but now Amy will have to start gaining weight to help their little one form.

The question is - does this kind of past make it easier or harder on her? On any of us? Studies have shown women who have past struggles with weight are more likely to have big gains during pregnancy. Hello, we're finally being given keys to the kitchen cabinets, and there's an army of people around us reminding us "you're eating for two dear." Being big is suddenly cute.

But Hildreth and those who have won the weight gain challenge (on TV or off) are more aware than anyone of what it means to be fat. "So many friends have had to battle weight gain during pregnancy," she told People Magazine. "They all have told me to watch out, it happens so quickly, and I'm like, 'I know!' I am cautious. I haven't gained any weight yet. I feel like the luckiest pregnant girl ever."

Does weight loss success make it easier for moms? Or is the same old slippery slope?

Image: People

AAP: Delayed Vaccines Too Risky for Kids

They Say: Schools Near Fast Food Makes Fat Kids

Why They Shouldn't Eat the Snow

Man Says Drinking Breastmilk Cured His Cancer

They Say: Antacids During Pregnancy Up Risk for Child's Asthma

NY Proposes Taxing Non-Diet Soda

Miriam Axel-Lute — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 19:00:00 GMT

OK Gov. Paterson: I know you've got a wicked budget hole, and we all have to "share the pain." I also know that this country has a severe health crisis with escalating rates of diabetes, heart disease, etc. and that soda and related sugar-water drinks (or, more specifically, high-fructose-corn-syrup drinks) are bad for us and our kids.

But can we work through a few of the logical problems with your proposed "obesity tax" here?

1. It only applies to "nondiet" sodas (and fake juice drinks), thereby giving the implicit healthy stamp of approval to "diet" drinks full of artificial sweeteners, which cause many people a wide range of health problems, from dizziness to migraines, while to others they just taste gross. They also interfere with efforts to adjust to a healthier, lower-sugar diet. Not to mention that carbonated diet sodas still are acidic enough to eat away at kids teeth and still don't hydrate like water or provide nutrients like milk. Remember also that soda—diet and nondiet—is also a major source of people's caffeine fixes (and young kids having caffeine worries me more than their having sugar, frankly).

Basically, this just shows the folly of trying to decide on high what's healthy for people: it varies. I have some extremely health-conscious friends whose son is super allergic to tons of things—so right now he's eating a lot of Fritos (all corn, no cross-contamination). If you tried to tax "junk food," for example, you'd be hitting them hard.

2. Like any sales tax, this going to fall most heavily on the poor, who buy a lot of soda often because it's what's sold at the corner store. Study after study has shown that living in a "food desert" is a primary cause of unhealthy eating choices. Without changing that, adding a tax is like raising the gas tax without investing in public transportaiton. (If the tax is high enough to make bodega owners stock healthier drinks instead, we might see some benefit, but I'm skeptical.)

3. Recent studies have shown that it's possible to be both fat and fit. You say you don't want to make kids feel bad for being overweight. So don't. Instead encourage the good stuff, which is what will really make the difference: access to healthy food and drink, enough sleep, and exercise (recess! later school start times! healthy foods in schools! walking and biking to school!). I know that won't balance the budget. I'm sorry.

Photo by Qfamily.

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They Say: Fat-Eating Pregos Make for Fat-Loving Kids

JeanneSager — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 20:39:00 GMT

Tired of hearing your mom comment on the size of your butt? Tell her it's her fault. A new study published in the Journal of Neuroscience says women who indulge in fat-laden foods during pregnancy are setting the stage for parenting a child who will constantly struggle with his or her weight.

Researchers say the developing fetus' brain is essentially being hard-wired to crave fatty foods as their moms eat for two . . . or four. The study was performed on rats rather than humans, but it makes good sense. What are kids eating when they're inside us? Exactly what we're eating. So wouldn't it make sense that they'd develop a taste for those foods?

My father used to joke that he considered leaving my mother if she served one more plate of spinach during her pregnancy (she had to get that iron somehow), and wouldn't you know it - one of my favorite foods is a nice big chunk of spinach pie oozing with feta and wrapped in delicate phyllo dough.

Although my propensity to pop M&Ms would point to plenty of desserts served after those spinach-rich dinners . . .

Image: Raising Kids

They Say: Lead Bullets Make Game Risk for Pregnant Women, Kids

They Say: Text Messaging Can Fight Childhood Obesity

Save Money: Kids Eat Free at Restaurants . . . Well, Some of Them

Addicted to Food Because of Genes?

Kelly Mills — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 14:31:00 GMT

I've read about a quadrillion studies on obesity research, and it's rare that one actually makes me reconsider my behavior. This latest one, on a gene variant and the pleasure derived from food, actually did give me pause though. It also might make you think twice about how to feed your kids. Here's what I mean.

It might seem logical that people who are overweight or obese get more pleasure from food than skinny folks, and that's why they overeat. But the study says the opposite might be true. Researchers gave chocolate milkshakes (mmm) to 77 young women. Some were lean, some were obese, and some had a gene variant that makes them respond less to dopamine (a chemical important to the pleasure response.) Here's what they found: Obese women had less of a pleasure response to the milkshakes; this was even more so for women with the gene variant; and women with the gene variant had gained more weight a year later. In the words of one resarcher: "'If you look at the brain response when people are about to get the milkshake, obese individuals show greater activation of the reward circuitry, not less. So, ironically, they expect more reward but seem to experience less.'" Which kinda makes sense---if anticipate something will be better than it is, you might keep eating it in an effort to get satisfaction.

The researcher suggests that eating a small amount regularly of something high in fat and sugar might not be the way to go, because it could make it hard to stop eating. Perhaps cutting the food out entirely would actually do more for reducing cravings and overeating. And this applies to kids because, well, it may be easiest to build in good habits when you are young. Sigh. I'm a cupcake addict, and my kid likes her daily dessert, but this study might make me re-evaluate the frequency of our treats. Um, maybe. No promises.

Does anyone let their kids eat candy on halloween anymore?

Keep kids from getting fat - get a dog.

It's hard out there for a mom who says 'no'

Keep Kids From Getting Fat - Get a Dog

JeanneSager — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 15:32:00 GMT

Want to keep your kids from falling victim to the obesity crisis? Australian researchers say get a dog.

The study of more than 1,100 kids ages 5 to 12 showed kids with a friendly Fido in the house were in better shape - even if they weren't walking the pooch on a regular basis. If the dogs were anything like mine, it might have more to do with the amount the dog's stealing from their plate. Just saying - my dog gained 11 pounds in the year after my daughter started solids.

On a more serious note, pets have long been touted as good for kids, boosting self esteem, helping kids learn discipline and responsibility and even lowering kids risk of developing allergies down the line. Put each of those benefits together, and it would make sense that kids who have a four-legged friend have a healthier outlook on life - which usually translates to overall health. Then add in the exercise of chasing the dog to rescue all that stolen food, and that's one canine who's earning his keep.

Image: Pet Door Decor

What's Worse, Getting Fat or Getting Pregnant?

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News from Darkest Peru: Paddington Turns 50

Samples of Medicines Not Getting to Poor Kids

They Say: Drop the Hamsters, Kids, and Get Back in the Bubble

Best of FameCrawler: 9-19-08

Whit Honea — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 20:00:00 GMT

Pam Anderson Marries Fat Old Guy (Photos)

CNN Newsmaker Found Dead With Child At Side

Sarah Palin's Daughter Caught Doing Drugs On Tape

Amy Poehler Crying About Everything These Days

Ryan and Redmond O'Neal Arrested for Meth Possession (Photos)

Megan Fox in a Bikini!

Josh Howard Hates America? The National Anthem Video

Sarah Palin's Tanning Bed

Mary Louise Parker Naked on Weeds: Photo!

Nicole Richie and Joel Madden Splitting Up?

All I Want For Christmas Is A Sarah Palin Action Figure

Keira Knightley's Odd Reason For Wanting To Be Pregnant

Are More Pregnant Women Suddenly Starving Themselves?

Miriam Axel-Lute — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 20:00:00 GMT

A blogger over at self-improvement site PeopleJam is warning us about a new buzzword, "pregorexia," and the supposed trend from which it stems—women suddenly trying to be like a couple of skinny celebs by staying thin during their pregnancies.

But the original article reporting on the topic in the Times of London paints a somewhat different picture—one of a world in which lots of women have eating disorders, and, surprise, surprise, they don't just disappear during pregnancy, though sometimes pregnancy does make some that have been in remission return. (Since eating disorders are as much about control as appearance, I can see that the feeling of being out of control that pregnancy can bring would be a risk factor.)

The article paints a depressing picture of insufficient care and doctors not asking about, or noticing, symptoms of unhealthy eating. But it doesn't make the case that there's actually any new upswing in cases, and in fact specifically notes that there is no data to show that. Perhaps there is just an upswing in awareness, which is often mistaken for an increase in the thing itself.

More awareness of eating disorders in general is good, and I suppose I can tolerate "pregorexia," a creepily cutesy term for a non-cutesy thing, if it helps with that, but my gut feeling is it would make more sense to use the words we have and not treat eating disorders in pregnancy as some new, separate thing that those crazy knocked up ladies are getting into.

There does seem to already be a disturbing willingness to assume that healthy pregnancy weight gain is going to screw with all of our delicate self esteems, even if we have no eating disorders. Take lines like this one from BabyCenter—"It's normal to feel anxious and even depressed as the numbers on the scale edge up" (Depressed? Just from that? If that's true, we're in sad shape) or the popular, defensive "I'm not fat, I'm knocked up" T-shirt.

So there's weirdness out there, but I'm still suspicious of making it a celebrity supermodel problem. There are an awful lot of normally protruding pregnant bellies in evidence on famous people. Enough that even under-a-pop-culture-rock me has seen the pictures.

On the other hand, from what I've heard from midwives and other mothers, fears about gestational diabetes (a real problem with extreme weight gain) and "babies too big for a natural birth" (which is almost always bunk) seem to lead an awful lot of nurses and doctors to cluck their tongues warningly over even slightly high weight gain. That won't create an eating disorder out of thin air, but it sure can sow doubt and paranoia. And if eating disorders are as common in pregnancy as the Times thinks, medical professionals might want to reconsider which side of caution they err on.

Photo by tomeppy.

5 Exercises To Tackle the "Mom-Flap" Challenge

Kelly Mills — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:02:00 GMT

You know of this mom-flap? A.k.a. the spare tire, the c-section remnant roll, the muffin top. Crabmommy, who coined the term, is tired of hers and she has issued a challenge. Five minutes of abdominal exercises daily to banish the flap for good. She put out a call to her readers, and is now on week two, but not especially happy with how it's all going. And this is where a sister wants to help a sister out.

Yeah, I'm a fitness dork and a personal trainer, so I figured it'd be good to share some evil moves and a little strategy towards her goal. But first, I really, really have to emphasize something, even though it already came up in the comments thread.

You can't spot tone. Well, actually you can, but no one will see the fruits of your hard work if there is a layer of fat over the newly strengthened muscles. And the way to get rid of fat? There's a few, but most involve a combination of cardio exercise (running, biking, swimming, etc.) and nutritional choices. Oh, and for many of us, walking 20 minutes a day is not going to be sufficient for our goals. See, many of us hold fat in our hips and thighs, and many of us hold it around our middle, and wherever you hold it, it'll be the first fat to come back and the last to go. Sorry. Life's a bitch.

But that doesn't mean you should neglect the ab set, cuz stronger abs help your cardio and your whole damn life. It's your core strength. baby. So here's five minutes of hard core. And one more thing: Since lots of us don't get the aesthetic results we want, especially in the time frame we'd like, I am a big fan of setting stuff up so you also get to see your strength progress. It's positive feedback, and I sure need it.

Sooo, I'd do these exercises for time. See how many reps you can do, and try and shoot for more reps each week, or increase your time. Oh, and ask your doctor first, and never even think of suing me because I have NO money. And if you have diastasis recti (and you probably know it because you'll see a ridge or feel a separation between your abs) then really, go for a specialized program.

1. Do 30 seconds of full sit ups. If you can't do any, try having someone hold your feet. Work up to doing them with no one holding your feet. You can also use a weighted ball and bring your arms overhead while you lay flat, then use the momentum to help you get up. I know sit ups aren't in vogue, but hey, do the Pilates version if you can then. I still like them because you can crank them out fast, elevate your heart rate, and have lots of variations (while holding weight, slow, fast, legs flat, decline, and so on.)

2. Do 30 seconds of bicycle crunches. Bring your knee to your opposite elbow while you extend the other leg; then switch in a cycling motion. You should feel it in your obliques. It should be hard, and as fast as you'd go if you were actually cycling. Make it hurt. Yeah.

3. Do 30 seconds of straight leg lifts. Lay flat, and put your hands, palms down, under your back where your booty starts to support your back. Keeping your legs straight, bring them up to a 90 degree angle, then lower them almost to the floor. If this hurts your lower back, try bending your knees and decreasing the range of motion.

Repeat 1, 2, and 3.

4. Do 10 push ups, or as many push ups as you can. From your feet. Yes it is hard at first, and yes, it works your arms, but Crabmommy suggested it and I love the idea because you do have to hold your core tight for these. Consider the 100 push up challenge.

5. Hold plank for one minute. You can do this from the top of the push up position, or from your forearms. Abs tight. Have someone check you to make sure you are flat like a board, and not dipping your hips down or sticking your booty in the air. Add ten seconds every week if you can. Try side plank on alternate days for a super good time.

Extra credit: If you have a pull up bar or are at the park and see some monkey bars handy, hang from the bar and bring your knees up to your chest; then lower your legs sloooowly to avoid swinging and do the next rep without touching the ground in between. Go for 15. 20. Do the side version too. Have fun. This one is great for some folks with bad backs who have trouble with lower ab stuff.

Now go forth and dare people to punch you in the gut.

5 Ways to Keep the Kids from Growing Fat this Summer

Cole Gamble — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 17:00:00 GMT

It used to be you could just kick the kids out of the house on a summer day, lock the door and refuse to let them back in until well after dark. But someone had to go have a hissy fit and make that illegal, so now a lot more kids spend their time indoors. Luring your kids away from their PS3’s and IPods and daytime soap “stories” is harder than ever, even when you try to convince them that the outside world is cool ‘cause it’s so totally old school. Here are some gentle ways to nudge them out of the nest and make sure they don’t spend their whole summer eating Hot Pockets.

Water Slides

Going to the water slides may not sound like great exercise--it involves sitting down—but then you’re forgetting the arduous hike to the top of the water slide mountain. Just make sure to slather on the sunscreen like tar.

Check out The Dangerous Book for Boys/Daring Book for Girls

Outside of arcane knowledge about historical events you and your kids don’t care about, these books are full of activities like building soap box racers and how to classify indigenous insects. Sounds corny, but millions of copies sold can’t be wrong.

Photo Scavenger Hunt

Give your kids a list of things within the neighborhood, like “the doghouse with the red roof”, and set them loose with a digital camera (preferable a cheap one) to photo gather everything on the list. Promise them a prize if they finish the list.

Buy Some Squirt Guns

Nothing gets your kids out of the house faster than the promise of shooting each other.

Kid Olympics

Set up a course with hula hoops, jump ropes or whatever you have on hand and have the kids race through various events. If you don’t want to get them prizes, you can make ribbons (all say “participant” because we don’t want any losers, right?”)

More by this author: The 26 Most Disturbing Kids Movies Ever

Pregcellent: Eat Well, Period. Prenatal Diet Influences Puberty Onset

Kelly Mills — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 13:34:00 GMT

Just when the pregnant ladies thought they got enough flack about what they ingest during gestation. Now check this out: Researchers say a mother's prenatal diet can influence the early onset of puberty. Sheesh, I was chalking it up to non-organic milk and Bratz dolls. You mean my nutritional choices during the most hormonally insane period of my life are to blame for my daughter's precocious eye-rolling?

Well, in case you were wondering, it's a high-fat diet that the researchers tie to the age of your offsprings' puberty. And of course we are talking about girls going through early puberty, because no one seems to care if boys sprout a little peach fuzz early and start spending hours in their rooms with blacklight posters at an early age. The folks who studied this say prenatal diet may have more influence on menstruation happening young than early childhood nutrition. Of course, the study was on rats, so we can always hold out hope for an species reprieve from regular pregnancy Ben & Jerry's transgressions.

Ending the Food Fight: Stopping Childhood Obesity

Cole Gamble — Wed, 14 May 2008 16:01:00 GMT

You pretty much can't turn on the tv with out hearing how fat American kids are today. Every empire must fall. In Rome, Christian was the downfall. In England it was overextension. Apparently the fall of the American Empire will be juvenile diabetes.

A new book tackles the “epidemic” of childhood obesity in our country: Ending the Food Fight by Dr. David Ludwig, who founded the Optimal Weight for Life program (OWL) at the Children's Hospital Boston. Dr. Ludwig claims success for his method comes from a low-glycemic diet.

Now, I was once a fat kid, and actually would like to have been one now when being fat doesn't seem to put you in the minority. That said, I really watch it with my kids. Not psycho “baby anorexic”, just a concern for establishing good eating habits early on. My parents let me eat whatever I wanted and convinced me the resulting fatness was genetics and nothing I could combat. I don't know about special gylcemic diets, but I do know that modeling good eating habits for your kids does more for putting them on a solid health (physical and mental) foundation than anything.

Controversy: Weight, For Beauty Queens And New Moms

Amy S.F. Lutz — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 15:01:00 GMT

In this corner, Brooke Burke, gorgeous celebrity mom who still looks fab in a bikini after four babies! In this corner, Chloe Marshall, first "overweight" contestant to compete for the title of Miss England!

Okay, ladies, we want a fair fight here, so no eye-gouging, no hair-pulling, no raising false expectations, hawking useless products, or encouraging young girls to eat themselves into a diabetic coma.

Let's get ready to RUMBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Given how preoccupied we as a society are with weight (especially women's weight), it's hardly news that two of the most popular posts this week questioned what it means to be healthy. And I have to say it was nice to read so many comments on both Jen's and Kelly's posts defending Kelly's claim that "a diversity of shapes and sizes are lovely," including Katrina's note, "A young woman who eats well, exercises regularly, and has a body type that is larger than the average super model is exactly who I want my daughter to recognize, respect, and relate to!"

There also seemed to be a general consensus that body shape is a product more of nature than nurture, and that it's unrealistic for most women to think they can diet into a size 0 - except for Treespeed, who accused Jen of being "bitter" and "catty," in her post on Brooke Burke, stating, "Just because you can't make it happen doesn't mean it can't be done."

I hate to engage in any reductive, feminist rhetoric, but did anyone else think Treespeed's point of view made a lot more sense once he revealed that he is a man?

What I'm wondering is how deep this embrace of Chloe Marshall goes. That is, we may be all rooting for her on principle, but how many of us, despite Katrina's comment, really want our daughters to be the overweight contestant at the beauty pageant? My daughters are beautiful and smart, but Brooke Burke's genes don't inform even one branch of the family tree. And I have to admit, although I don't let them know it, I'm monitoring their weight very carefully. It has nothing to do with health, because, as Kelly notes, recent research suggests that being somewhat overweight isn't as much of a health problem as it's been made out to be by the press. It's all about the social angle. I don't want any of my kids to be the "fat kid" in the class. Kids are cruel enough without giving them obvious targets.

Does that make me a hypocrite? I'm just trying to protect my kids and boost them as much as I can. After all, their last name is Lutz - as in, rhymes with "klutz" and "sluts." They're going to need all the help they can get.

Weekly Check-Up: Eating Disorders On the Rise In Young Kids

Kelly Mills — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 13:31:00 GMT

With all the news about the rise in childhood obesity and how we have to do something about it, it's interesting to see coverage of another topic: Increasing numbers of elementary school-aged children may be developing eating disorders. An eating disorder treatment center reported a 300 percent increase in calls for pre-teen patients. Oh, and get this: 80 percent of preteen girls are dieting. WTF? Dieting is linked with an increased liklihood of developing an eating disorder, which makes sense, cuz it's often just a matter of crossing a line a few too many times.

Treatment centers aren't the only ones who are worried: 63 percent of elementary school teachers say they are worried about eating disorders in their classrooms. Oy. And in case you thought maybe kids didn't get the message about how important it is to be thin, 81 percent of ten-year-olds are afraid of getting fat. The adverse health effects of anorexia and bulemia are much clearer than the health effects of being overweight, by the way. Perhaps as we loudly wage a war on an obesity "epidemic," we might want to spend some time looking at what other messages we are sending our kids.

Weekly Check-Up: Messy House Making You Fat?

Kelly Mills — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 13:31:00 GMT

Hmmm, is it just a coincidence that two of the first things to go when many people have kids are standards of house cleanliness and, well, the ass? Oh please. Apparently one of Oprah's special friends believes an untidy home can keep you fat. "Clutter expert" (do you need a Master's degree for that) Peter Walsh says he was stunned to discover that when people got organized, they also started making healthy food choices. I suppose a skeptical person could point out that our society's current fixation with obesity might make "it helps you lose weight!" a key selling point for all kinds of stuff, like, say, a book on home organization, but we can't find our skeptics under all these piles of papers and empty fast food containers.

So, how exactly does clutter keep you heavy? Well, er, that part isn't real scientifically clear, something about loving yourself and clearing room to do away with emotional eating and having a nice, clean space to cook healthy foods and exercise. Totally. Did anyone mention that housework burns calories? Why, it's all so clear! Feel lighter when you do away with extra junk in your house, and those extra pounds won't be far behind at all. They will just fall away. Now, if only my habit of exercising somehow made my house neater, I'd be stoked. And incidentally, I could go a million years without ever having to hear the phrases "healthy food choices" and "the real you" again.

Pregcellent: Eat This, Not That

Kelly Mills — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 13:32:00 GMT

Sometimes I wonder why I get so pissy about stuff when everybody does it, but I do. Take the diet/nutrition book, "Eat This, Not That" now in a pregnancy edition. It's pimped on the Today site right now. So the original, non-pregnancy version of the book was all over Today and msnbc, three times I believe. Hmmm, it's by the editors of Men's Health--could there be a connection between that mag and Today? Yeah, yeah, nothing new, I know. And the book made dubious claims about nutrition as a way to target belly fat. Again, not unheard of for a diet book to make lame and questionable promises. And I noted that some of the caloric amounts for the "bad" food choices were pretty high, like perhaps they had chosen the worst possible offender and generalized. No, that's not unique.

So, how does the expecting mom version stack up? Well, I do sort of like the format of telling you which of two choices is better in calories and nutrition, and I didn't see much about attacking belly fat here (har de har) so that's a good sign. I suppose once I get over the idea of receiving pregnancy nutritional advice from the dudes at Men's Health (though that mag is at least funnier than many of its brethren) I could be okay with this. But, um, I didn't really see anything so vastly different from what you'd find in many other expecting mom nutrition books. If you like the "this or that" format and feel two choices give you enough info, great. If you prefer to read nutritional labels and do searches for food info free on many websites, or even buy a different book, I think you'll be just fine too.

Phobic Kids Fear Fat

Karen Murphy — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 12:26:00 GMT

Thin is in, and even kids know it. How could they not? The messages are undeniable, and they're everywhere, even in their own homes. After all, kids are fatter than ever before, right? And there's been a huge outpouring of time, energy, and money into programs to save our fat kids from getting fatter. But there's also the flip side, that all this fat-o-phobia is turning regular-sized kids into mini stick insects.

Adults everywhere are focused not only on looking good but on feeling good, too, but this focus on food consumption, health, and exercise trickles down to the kids who distill it and concentrate it into their own personal anorexia-making mantras. And while dropping 15 or 20 pounds in even a thin Mom or Dad won't make a huge overall difference, weight loss in kids can easily escalate into malnutrition and illness. When my older son was 8 he had a stomach virus that kept him from eating for a few days; a 5-lb loss on most kids wouldn't have been a big deal but on my already stick-thin kid it turned him nearly skeletal (he gained it back easily after he began eating again, but it was a huge wakeup call that let me know that my kids just don't have much latitude for such things). And other regular-sized or thinner kids are rapidly becoming too thin when they try to eat less or even lose weight.

Signs your kid may be obsessed with weight and heading into eating-disorder territory:

1. Avoiding eating with the family.

2. Constantly complaining their stomach hurts or they aren't hungry.

3. Being cold and tired most of the time.

(here's a list of warning signs associated more with teens)

Sadly, most weight-obessed parents don't realize that all kids need is to eat a good amount of quality foods, avoid a lot of junk, and play a lot. Period. Oh, and that their own obession is sending their kids a message.

Photo: www.gospellightbc.com

Women With Curves Have Smarter Kids

Karen Murphy — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 15:19:00 GMT

Damn. I've always liked the fact that I'm built pretty much slim all over, except when shopping for jeans. Many don't fit because they're made for women with actual hips, but I've consoled myself with the fact that I can actually fit into a smaller size that way now that jeans don't all come with a 12-inch mom-jean rise. But it looks like there's a whole lot more for women with hips to celebrate than just great-fitting off-the-rack jeans: kids who have curvier moms seem to be smarter.

A new study reveals that kids' performance on cognition tests seemed to be linked to their mom's waist-hip ratio. Though how someone could come up with this as a premise and then study data about it is s bit perplexing. The idea, though, is that hip fat contains polyunsaturated fatty acids critical for the development of the fetus's brain, and the more hip fat, well, the better.

(I think it's time someone studied the muffin top, though. "Women sporting sizable muffin tops are funnier." Or, "Muffin tops: the new black!")

So I have to wonder if this isn't some sort of Darwinian thing. After all, throughout history until relatively recent times it's always been the curvier women who were considered more attractive and therefore more worthy of mating-type attentions, good mom material. Though I'm always more than a bit skeptical when it comes to these tiny somewhat-scientific tidbits that are thrown out to tantalize us, and while this particular one seems a little simplistic, I'm wondering if there isn't something to it, some genetic advantage for possessing a body type that has been considered desirable since ancient times. And I wonder, too, what it means genetically for our future now that we seem to be moving away from that previous ideal. Thoughts?

Research Shows Kids Needs More (Healthy) Fats in Diets

Alisyn — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 14:08:00 GMT

A recent Nutrition Journal study showed that kids burn through fat quicker than adults do, due to the growth process and quicker protein synthesis, and that fat is needed in their diets to support normal development. Besides being an energy source, fat helps produce cell membranes and eicosanoids (compounds that help regulate blood pressure, heart rate, blood vessel constriction, blood clotting and the nervous system.) Dietary fat carries fat-soluble vitamins — A, D, E and K — from food into the body, and it also helps maintain healthy hair and skin, protects vital organs, and keeps the body insulated.

For all those reasons and then some, far more fat is required by a child's body than an adult's: kids 3 and older should be getting 35% of their daily calories from fat, while babies and toddler should be getting up to 40% of their calories from fat (adults should get no more than 20-35% of their daily calories from fat).

So, how do you know if your kid is eating enough fat? Well, you can start by talking with your pediatrician, and checking your child's progress on the growth chart. If the kid is on track - most kids are - great. If your kid needs a little help in the fattening up (oh, what I wouldn't give to hear my doctor say that to me!), try experimenting in the kitchen with foods that are high in poly and monounsaturated fats, and omega-3 fatty acids. Foods like:

- Avocados (guacamole, chilled avocado soup, mango/avocado salsa)

- Nuts (nut butters are a staple, but nuts can also be great when toasted and tossed into stir-frys, salads, and pan sauteed veggies).

- Oils (I cook anything that can be cooked in butter - from eggs to veggies to pancakes - in vegetable oil, and it's also great on salads, with your choice of vinegar, and can be slipped into a smoothie, or mixed with herbs and drizzled over bread or rice.)

- Fish (Okay, this one is probably the hardest. Salmon burgers? Herring donuts? Mackrel pie? Just kidding.)

Other great, kid-friendly sources of fat include dairy products, meat, and fried lard. Gotcha again!

Study: Thinner Moms Have Thinner Babies

Karen Murphy — Sat, 17 Mar 2007 15:51:00 GMT

I'm sure there are tons of exceptions to this one (and I'd love to hear about yours if you have one), but a new study reveals that leaner moms tend to have leaner babies, which in turn seems to have an effect on the relative body composition of children as they become older, even into adulthood. At the same time, bigger moms or "slow walkers" (what a weird way to describe someone) seem to have bigger babies. Okay, we're back to blaming the mom here! And I'm thinking that this study is only restating what's been known for a long time, that there is a genetic link between the appearance of the parents and the appearance of the children. Hello! Yeah, that's news.

Hey Dads! Your Kids' Toys are Making You Fat!

Karen Murphy — Sat, 17 Mar 2007 12:15:00 GMT

Finally, something worthwhile to blame that ten-pound spare tire on that you've been carrying around for the last six months (and your wife said it was all those cookies, pffffftt!). Oh, and you can quit bathing, too. Because those toys you keep stepping on? And the soap? Is what's been making you fat. Finally, a study that makes perfect sense!

We already have heard that many plastic toys contain phthalates, the plastic additive that is used to make PVC plastic more pliable and that we already know is toxic to babies. But now they're saying that there is a link to phthalates and low testosterone levels (now that'll get someone's attention!) and poor sperm quality. Your boys have been swimming in a toxic chemical soup, my friend! And low testosterone is thought to have an impact on belly fat and pre-diabetic conditions (another reason to lay off the cookies).

Since phthalates are found, like, everywhere (in cosmetics, shampoos, soaps, lotions, lubricants, paint, pesticides, and plastics, and even in the coating of timed-release medications!), practically 75% of the populationhas measurable levels of several phthalates in their urine. (Though no one tested me; did they test you?) DuPont Chemical's slogan used to be "Better Living Through Chemistry". Maybe it's time to rethink that one.

Kids Gain Weight Over Summer Vacation

Karen Murphy — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 11:19:00 GMT

Okay, people, we've got the idea. Kids are fat. Lots of kids are fat. The latest reason? Because they're not in school. That's right, now summer vacation is being blamed on weight gain in children. So getting away from schools which are filled with Taco Bell ads, junk-food vending machines, crappy cafeteria food NOT made by Jamie Oliver, and which offer little or no opportunity to burn off calories outside, apparently makes kids get even fatter.

5,380 5- and 6-year-olds in 310 schools across the country were studied over a three-year period and were found to have gained more weight over the summer than during the school year. Researchers speculate that the weight gain could be because the summer months lack the structure of the school year, which throws the cause of the problem back on the parents and is another justification for lengthening the school year.

All this passing around the blame isn't helping the kids who need help.

Trying to Conceive? Eat More Ice Cream!

Karen Murphy — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 21:17:00 GMT

I remember what a nightmare it was when I was trying to conceive my daughter eight years ago. Every month it was the same news: nothing. I obessively took my temperature for months: nothing. I tried Clomid: nothing. My husband was tested: nothing. I finally had exploratory surgery: nothing. The whole experience was devastating and I felt like a failure. My body was failing me.

How simple it might have been if I only knew to eat ice cream. Can it be that easy? Maybe it can. A new study found a link between a low-fat dairy diet and increased risk of infertility due lack of ovulation. Women who ate one or more servings of high-fat dairy had a 27% decreased risk of infertility as opposed to women who ate one serving one or fewer times a week. More importantly, it appeared that eating low-fat dairy contributed to the risk of infertility. The researchers believe that the presence of a fat-soluble substance, which improves ovarian function, might explain the lower risk of infertility from high-fat dairy foods.

(To be clear, this wouldn't have helped me, since I ovulated regularly and therefore fell into the hole of "unexplained infertility". But this might be helpful news for many women.).

You have my permission to consume ice cream now. Go have some; I'll wait here.

"Organicize Me": Michael Stusser Goes Organic For One Month

JasonAvant — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 16:15:00 GMT

Some of you may know Michael Stusser from his work over at ParentMap; he authored "The Accidental Parent", a column detailing his experience marrying the love of his life - who,as it turned out, had twin 10-year-old girls. His Sebastian Junger-esque courage firmly established, Stusser recently took up a challenge that many of us would shirk from. He spent the month of January eating and drinking only certified organic foods and beverages. Hilarity ensues, along with a thoughtful assessment of the benefits and challenges of eating au natural.

For those new to the world of organic foods, Stusser provides a primer on what makes a product "organic". He then points out that the definition is a bit nebulous - there's a big difference between "organic" and "natural", and to meet USDA standards, 95% of the ingredients need to be organic (the other 5% can, for instance, be De-Con RoachProof). Of course, there's a political aspect to organics, but Stusser points out that organic farms are not the Trotskyist Paradise that one might think - and, indeed, organic food may be a bit bourgeois, as Stusser sees a 58% increase in the cost of his family's monthly groceries.

Along with the serious stuff, Stusser points out the lighter side of his conversion ("Luckily, I discovered an organic vodka called Square One"). And even if you decide that those Jeno's Pizza Rolls are too goddamn tasty to give up, Stusser thinks that one can actually eat in a healthier and more environmentally responsible way. Now, speaking of organic vodka...