The health risks for
obese children may be even greater than previously estimated, new research
suggests. So why do parents let their kids get fat?
The recent start of
the new school year was greeted with reports of a dramatic rise in demand for
extra-large uniforms for primary school pupils.
It came as no surprise
to Carol. Her two nieces were wearing size 14 skirts by the age of 11, the
average size worn by a grown woman in the UK.
Her son also struggled
to find a uniform big enough at secondary school as his weight crept up to
nearly 20 stone (127kg) in his teens.
"You do feel
judged by other people when your child gets to that size, but the harshest
critic is yourself," says the mother-of-two from Birmingham.
What is obese?
·
Morbidly obese - BMI
of 40 and over
·
Obese - BMI of 30 and
over
·
Overweight - BMI of 25
and over
·
Normal - BMI of
between 18.5 and 24.9
"I constantly
asked myself 'what am I doing wrong?'"
It's a good question.
Just over 33% of 11-year-olds are now overweight or obese and among four and
five-year-olds it's 22%, according to the most recent figures from the
National Child Measurement Programme, which assesses the height
and weight of primary children in England. The figures are similar in Wales,
Scotland and Northern Ireland.
New research published
today by the University of Oxford also suggests that obese children and
adolescents have several risk factors for heart disease, including raised blood
pressure and cholesterol, compared with normal weight children.
Obesity experts say
parents are struggling with a multitude of problems when it comes to their
child's weight. They range from a lack of education about food, limited cooking
skills and limited money to buy healthier food to longer working hours and
marketing campaigns for junk food aimed at kids.
But the more sedentary
lives children now lead is also creating huge problems. Last week a study
suggested that up to 75% of junior school children preferred to stay at home
than go to their nearby park.
Watching TV was one of
the most popular activities, with 89% saying it was how they liked best to
spend their time away from school, according to researchers Lightspeed. In
July, scientists from University of Montreal claimed every extra hour of
television that a toddler watches each week adds to their waist size by the
time they turn 10.
So while the problems
parents face might be increasing so is evidence about the dangers of obesity.
So why do they let their children get so fat?
Katy's son weighed
over 23 stone (147kg) by the age of 15. She knew the reason - he ate too much
and did too little exercise. She says she tried to help him but things only
changed after he decided to help himself.
"A lot of his
eating habits were out of my control," says the mother-of-two from
Buckinghamshire. "He would eat too much when he was at school and then
come home and eat whatever was around, even cook big meals for himself. He
wouldn't wait for me to get home and make dinner.
My mum wasn't the problem
My problems started
when I was between five and seven. When I was younger everyone said I had puppy
fat and I would grow out of it - I didn't. By my teens I had a serious weight
problem.
People blame parents
but my mum did everything she could she could to control my weight.
I was very good at
convincing myself and others that I wasn't eating very much. I would skip
breakfast and lunch but make up for it at dinner. Sometimes I would secretly
eat through the night.
My mum would give me a
good dinner because I said I hadn't eaten all day. She didn't want me to over
eat but she didn't want me go without either
Stacey,
once over 25 stone (159kg)
"I know I am not
completely innocent when it comes to his weight. I have always struggled myself
and have some bad eating habits, but I tried hard to change the way we both
ate."
The turning point came
on a holiday last year to the US. Her son was too big to go on certain rides at
a theme park. Upset and humiliated, he went on a six-week weight-loss camp and
lost nearly three stone (18kg). The camp was run by Wellspring UK, one of a
number of firms offering camps in the UK.
"He had always
refused to go before but now he wanted to. He is a different child now, so
happy and confident. Before he had no self esteem and would have temper
tantrums. His whole attitude to food has also changed, he now picks the right
stuff to eat."
Some parents know they
are a bigger part of the problem. Tracey says she allowed her daughter to pick
up her own bad eating habits. Admitting to having a "complicated
relationship" with food herself, she says she used it to bond with her
daughter.
"We would snack
together in the evening while watching television and treat ourselves with
sweets and puddings. It was like our special time together," says the
mother-of-one from Shrewsbury.
"I could see she
was carrying a few extra pounds but she seemed happy. I didn't want to mention
it because I didn't want her to feel negative about herself.
"When she started
secondary she was almost 14 stone (89kg) and by then her bad habits were hard
to break. I know I am responsible and I feel awful about it."
Despite the rise in
child obesity, experts say it's wrong to just blame parents.
"They definitely
have a responsibility, but the issue is much broader than simply blaming
them," says Paul Gately, professor of exercise and obesity at Leeds
Metropolitan University. He also runs weight loss camps for overweight
children.
Many parents don't
realise their child is fat when it might be obvious to other people, he says.
According to studies, 75% of parents underestimated the size of an overweight
child, while 50% underestimated the size of an obese child.
Even more surprisingly,
a similar study of healthcare professions produced nearly the same results. It
was carried out by Gately and his colleagues.
The expert's view
Despite all the talk
about tackling child obesity, the reality is there is very little professional
help out there.
Most dietetic services
will not see obese kids because they don't think they can be affective. They
know losing weight is about more than just the diet.
We clearly need an
approach that combines diet, exercise, education and psychological support.
Obesity expert
Professor Paul Gately
"A lot of it is
because the images of obesity that we see in the media are people who are
massive, 30 stone (190kg) or above. This is what a lot of people think of as
being overweight, but they are extreme cases. It only takes a few extra pounds
to actually be overweight."
People also judge
things on what they see around them on a daily basis, Gately says. Tracey
admits she let her daughter's weight creep up because "she was no bigger
than some of her friends".
"Two thirds of adults
in the UK are now classified as overweight, so our perception of what we
consider the average size to be has changed," says Gately.
Tam Fry, chairman of
the Child Growth Foundation and spokesperson of National Obesity Forum, agrees.
"When trained
health workers find it hard to pick out an average-weight child then you have
to start to think we've got a problem and it's bigger than just what parents
do."
The daily emotional
battle around food can also be be fraught between a parent and a child.
"When I got
hungry I would get so angry and scream and shout," says Stacey, a
mother-of-one from London. "My mum would often end up shouting 'just have
it then'. The pressure I put on her was huge and unfair, it put a real strain
on our relationship."
How many calories should you eat?
·
2,500 calories for men
daily
·
2,000 calories for
women daily
·
1,800 calories for
children aged five to 10 daily
Source: NHS
She has struggled with
her weight from the age of five. She reached nearly 20 stone in her teens.
"My mum did
everything she could think of to help me, enrolling me in sports classes and
trying to get professional help. She even went to my school to tell staff what
I was and wasn't allowed to eat, but the problem was me."
From a very early age
children are very good at using a "whole set of behaviours" to get
what they want, say experts. It's easy to judge but nearly every parent in the
land has caved in to some sort of emotion blackmail from their child, says
Gately. It just might not be about food.
Charlie Powell,
campaigns director of the Children's Food Campaign - an alliance of 150
education bodies, health groups and children's charities - says it's also hard
for parents to stand up to the barrage of junk food advertising.
"There are huge
hurdles they have to surmount to keep their children healthy. It's stuff that
wasn't around in years gone by and food manufacturers are very sophisticated in
the techniques they use to appeal to children."
Katy's son, who is
still 15, has lost another 3kg (6lbs) since coming home. Carol's son eventually
went on a weight-loss programme and lost about five stone (32kg). Now 27, he
has kept it off.
Stacey had a gastric
band fitted three years ago, at the age of 25, and is now 14 stone (89kg). She
says she will work hard not to pass on her problems with food to her four-month
-old daughter as she grows older.
Tracey is continuing
to help her daughter, who is now 15.
"We're trying
hard and being much healthier, but she will probably be watching her weight for
the rest of her life, just like me. I feel awful about that."
Were you overweight as a child? As an adult,
do you now blame your parents or other external factors? Send us your comments
using the form below.
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