Not only does this AAP campaign embrace the gluttonous sloth causes obesity narrative, an erroneous narrative that no doubt fuels bullying, it also demonstrated incredible ignorance in its clear suggestion that the primary reason children have obesity today is because they no longer play.
Never you mind that objective studies on the impact of physical activity on childrens' weights reported that even a ten fold difference in physical activity didn't protect children from weight, or that a meta-analysis of school PE programs involving over 18,000 students showed that no amount of PE had a significant weight impact - no - if that boy on the bottom of the see-saw just picked up a damn basketball instead of a bag of chips, no doubt he too would be slim.
So incredibly disappointing to see the AAP having gone down such an ugly road. Kids who struggle with overweight and obesity aren't likely to have any shortage of weight related guilt, shame and embarrassment in their lives and it's beyond awful to see an organization such as the AAP adding to their piles.
I reached out to the AAP who reported that they had thought the campaign, which begun in 2012, had run its course, but that confusion aside, it still begs the question of how it was approved in the first place, for if guilt, shame or simple play helped with childhood obesity, it wouldn't exist. And so I have to ask, how is it possible that the AAP didn't/doesn't already know that?
I agree the AAP's message was poorly thought out, and panders to misconceptions rather than informing the public.
ReplyDeleteI would like to see more supporting information that contributes to understanding the issue, however. If exercise has no significant impact on weight, what does, then?
Furthermore, both links explaining the exercise-weight effect use the BMI as a measuring point, an index which is both outdated and flawed. Shouldn't we be using a more progressive system to understand and counteract obesity? Is there one?
I find your blog, links, and the information you share very important, and appreciate what you do. Thank you.
Thank you for speaking out against this type of misconception and abuse which promotes hatred and discrimination against fat people. You must sometimes feel like a lone voice in the wilderness, but please keep it up! It is such important work you do!
ReplyDeleteWow. As someone who was obese as a child, I can only confirm your suspicions that overweight children suffer incredible shame, self-criticism, loneliness, and regular bullying. Of course, back in those days, I was in the minority, and now, it's much more common. What has changed? To me, it's pretty simple. We didn't even HAVE a McDonald's in town until I was in my teens. My mother prepared meals, breakfast, lunch and dinner. We ate fresh vegetables, from my father's backyard garden. Dining out was a VERY occasional special event. I've started to write down on everything that I eat, and if you need proof that it's the processed food that's doing it, just spend a couple of weeks writing down calories, fats, and sodium of everything you eat. It becomes obvious.
ReplyDeleteAt least glad to hear the AAP has changed this campaign. Even as a normal weight adult, being an obese child certainly took a toll on my body image. These children and their families need professional guidance, not an advertisement accusing them of laziness.
ReplyDeleteShaming people into being "healthy and fit" does not work! Obesity is about overeating and being less active, yes. But it is far more complex. For example, the propensity toward obesity has a genetic component that not all kids can overcome with activity and eating healthy. And, commonly, there are emotional and social issues, such as abuse, neglect, death of a parent, poverty, and bullying from peers that may drive a child to overeat, eat the wrong things, eat what's available, close themselves away, and participate little in activity, all of which contribute to childhood obesity. Childhood is not always a happy-go-lucky time for all children. Childhood is the time to build self-esteem, not knock them down to make them feel even worse about themselves! Fat shaming for ANY age group has to stop!
ReplyDeleteThe overweight child in the ad is not just "not being active" though, hes also eating a bag of chips. So this ad conveys a message of laziness AND poor eating. While both of those things (together) contribute to obesity, this message does nothing at all to solve the issue. Its only pointing out what we already know. Poor diet choices + no exercise (although you can exercise all you want, if your diet sucks, you're inevitably going to gain weight) = weight gain.
ReplyDeleteCaitlin
That ad is horrible. The AAP should be ashamed of using that ad and for being so stupid, lazy and/or greedy to think that it would help. I would love to have all of those doctors watch Fed Up. And see how those brave kids put themselves out there to help themselves and others. Further I would actually like to sue the AAP and then put the doctors in jail to pay for all of the damage they have done. Man, what a bunch of ...... Sorry I just needed to release some frustration. I'm an engineering who has done some reading on the side and understand how carbs drive insulin and insulin drives fattening. Those AAP doctors are working on this full time and getting paid big bucks. What a joke!
ReplyDeleteThat ad is horrible. My son has cerebral palsy and just does not have the coordination or social skills to play organized sports. He is overweight and I am tackling it on my own by reading your book and blogs and the work of others. Our pediatrician has been of no help, she couldn't understand why I switched him to eating whole oranges and stopped buying juice. Personally I'd prefer to see a poster shaming peciatricians.
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