Exclusive: Almost half of GPs have seen children up to the age of seven who have obesity, research finds
  • sabreW4K3@lazysoci.al
    2·
    2 days ago

    Honestly, this article is a bit of a mixed bag of frustration for me because the conversation always seems to miss the root issues.

    In many non-white cultures, feeding isn’t just about nutrition; it’s an expression of love. We have “feeders”, such as our mums and grandmas who show affection through food. It’s nurturing, but it creates this massive societal pressure to pile on the plates because “he’s a big boy” or “she’s a big girl.” By the time we’re old enough to pick our own portions, we’ve totally normalized eating way more than we actually need. You look at a “gourmet” portion and think it’s tiny, even though it’s exactly what a human body requires. We really need to rectify that.

    But it’s not just a cultural thing; the government has to step up. Why is it that shit food with zero nutrients is so much cheaper than the good stuff? We need real intervention: punish the companies pushing nutrient-void junk and reward the ones selling whole, nutrient-dense food.

    And then there’s the inevitable villainising of GLP-1 drugs that we see in these articles. People complain about people “taking the easy way out” or being “materialistic,” but you can’t build a whole society around materialism and “the aesthetic” (thanks capitalism) and then act shocked when people do whatever they can to fit in. Instead of attacking the symptoms, let’s look at the root causes: the lack of education and the lack of support.

    The article mentions that 80% of GPs find it difficult to talk to parents about this for fear of them getting angry or upset. That tells me we need to look at our “bedside manner.” Empathy is a massive part of getting these messages across; if parents feel judged or blamed, they shut down.

    At the end of the day, we need to teach people how to track. Tracking is everything. It’s not about being “good” or “bad” every day; it’s about the weekly average. If you’re consistent, you can have a treat! We need to get that literacy out there so we don’t leave kids in a position where they’re being bullied or left out. We’ve got to break the cycle.