The Obsession with Food Escalates
Day 17 of the 100 Reps Challenge
20 chest flies (if you don’t have a stability ball, just use a table or the floor instead)
20 cat-camels (this is also a great stretch to do anytime if you feel tension in your back)
Do this set 5 times for 100 chest flies and 100 cat-camels! And the answer is yes. Yes, I did choose cat-camels just because of the name.
Fitness Tip: Don’t let your body sag if you are using a stability ball for the chest flies. Keep your back flat and level with your knees.
Of Eating Disorders and Children
I was shocked to open the paper the other day and see this article staring back at me: Doctors are seeing binging, purging in five-year-olds.
If a headline like that doesn’t stop you in your tracks, I don’t know what will. The binging part doesn’t come as a surprise to me; we are all well aware that children today, just as much as adults, are very inactive and munching their way through all the processed food that surrounds us. If it’s on the shelf, I’m likely to wander over and start a munch-fest.
But it’s the purging part that comes as a real shock. Mindless eating is second nature to most of us. Purging is a deliberate decision. You can shovel half a dozen cookies into your mouth without noticing. But getting rid of it? That’s a conscious choice.
Purging is not an easy thing to do. I learned this lesson once a couple years ago when I was rather inebriated (okay, reeling drunk) at a bar, to the point that many people were getting alarmed (I would advise against trying to match your boyfriend drink for drink if you’re a foot shorter than him. Just a suggestion). A friend took me to the bathroom and told me that I had to throw up because it was the only way I’d feel better and stop worrying people that I had gotten alcohol poisoning. She tried to explain to me how to make myself throw up, and it took the better part of half an hour before I finally was successful. My body was not pleased the next day.
Bottom line, you can’t accidentally purge. And it seems as though it’s something that you have to “learn”. So how the hell are these kids having eating disorders at the age of 5? And who is teaching them this? This article gives all the more reason to develop good relationships ourselves with eating and body image so that we can pass that on to younger generations.
On the other hand, the other day I met someone involved in the ballet school in my city, and he informed me that very few of the dancers have eating disorders. Apparently the instructors are very concerned about their students getting proper nutrition and such. Thank goodness we are making progress in some places!
What’s your take on all this? Surprised? Is there some hope that we can turn this situation around and create a more positive environment?
If you want to see more of my thoughts on the obsession our culture has with food and eating, check out my most recent Living Well column at The Uniter. Enjoy!
I still feel these behaviors are symptoms of our worlds obesogenic paradigm. Until changes are made, the symptoms will not be treated
🙁
This is a case where the actual disease can be addressed. It’s just that people won’t do it and keep looking for something easier to solve a situation that will only get worse.
Sorry for the pessimistic attitude, but a glass half full of wrong is still too much wrong 🙂
THAT’S SICK.
Wow. I had no idea about the childhood purging!
I hope it’s just a few isolated cases and not some sort of bizarre trend.
This is one of those stories where you have to take a step back to think out the whole process.
At first glance, I would have to think that this may be on the Munchausen by proxy syndrome where parents report this to get them in the limelight. Who is reporting this stuff?
Where is a reporter getting this information too? A 5 year old is still watching Barney on television and shouldn’t be worried about weight problems.
Sorry, but this one doesn’t pass the duck test.
I agree this is weird, I’d wanna look at the individual cases and what influences got the kids to do it. Obviously over-eating can start at a very young age, but the guilt that follows it? I’m not sure it could. I don’t think a child of that age could take responsibility for overeating to the extent they’d make themselves sick. Maybe it’s a learned behaviour from adults, or they’ve heard it talked about…. seems more likely it’s a copy than their own idea.
Anyway, it’s definitely disturbing! Great article by the way.
TA x
Dr. J- very good point. I guess there gets to be a time when its just wishful thinking rather than making progress.
Simple and Divine- agreed.
Crabby- what IS it with all these crazy trends?! Terrible.
Tom- you’re right, it would be good to see the actual study and see how they got people involved in the study and all. But they do mention the eating disorders program for children, so I think its legit.
TA- I think its copying behavior too. I’m not sure that a child would be able to feel that kind of guilt and all. But because its becoming a trend (a very sick one at that), it makes sense that kids would see others doing it and act similarly.
Wow, my first thought is; What is going on with the mothers behaviors, words and/or actions that may be exposing these children to the purging? Also interested in individual cases that the article sited. This obsession with food, eating, and numbers is definitely escalating with people. Kids are just picking on the culture around them. Not good!
I’m speechless and sad.
Wow, that is so sad. Kids are being exposed to this culture of “the thinner the better” at such an early age now.
That’s terrible.
The real question, you’re right, is where are they learning this behavior? At 5, you learn more by example, so there has to be someone they come in contact with that they’ve learned it from. Which is incredibly sad.
Five year-olds??? I hadn’t seen or heard of that at all. That’s really, really sad…
Jolene- not exactly the best parenting going on there, is it?
Tricia- no one should be subject to eating disorders, and DEFINITELY not kids.
Missicat- makes you wonder about all the other things that must be starting to kids at younger and younger ages…
Gena- it really says something about the environment we live in!
Jenn- I hadn’t heard of it until now either. But kids are smart, they pick up on things FAST. Way faster than we give them credit for.
Love this post! I’m so glad we teach nutrition to our 4th graders at the beginning of the year. I think it helps!
That is horrifying to hear that children as young as 5 have these types of behavior problems already. Things have to change.
On another note, good job with the cat-camels. I would pick that exercise for the name, too. 🙂
I shouldnt be suprised, but i am. i guess it makes sense when our citizens are getting fatter, and our sex symbols are getting smaller.
Kelly Turner
http://www.everygymsnightmare.com
I shouldnt be suprised, but i am. i guess it makes sense when our citizens are getting fatter, and our sex symbols are getting smaller.
Kelly Turner
http://www.everygymsnightmare.com
I shouldnt be suprised, but i am. i guess it makes sense when our citizens are getting fatter, and our sex symbols are getting smaller.
Kelly Turner
http://www.everygymsnightmare.com
I shouldnt be suprised, but i am. i guess it makes sense when our citizens are getting fatter, and our sex symbols are getting smaller.
Kelly Turner
http://www.everygymsnightmare.com
I shouldnt be suprised, but i am. i guess it makes sense when our citizens are getting fatter, and our sex symbols are getting smaller.
Kelly Turner
http://www.everygymsnightmare.com
I shouldnt be suprised, but i am. i guess it makes sense when our citizens are getting fatter, and our sex symbols are getting smaller.
Kelly Turner
http://www.everygymsnightmare.com
I shouldnt be suprised, but i am. i guess it makes sense when our citizens are getting fatter, and our sex symbols are getting smaller.
Kelly Turner
http://www.everygymsnightmare.com
I shouldnt be suprised, but i am. i guess it makes sense when our citizens are getting fatter, and our sex symbols are getting smaller.
Kelly Turner
http://www.everygymsnightmare.com
I shouldnt be suprised, but i am. i guess it makes sense when our citizens are getting fatter, and our sex symbols are getting smaller.
Kelly Turner
http://www.everygymsnightmare.com
Some kids are natural pukers. I have one of those. He gags on any food he doesn’t like (and I make him eat) and can throw it up at will. Although he isn’t purging, in the sense of an ED, he’s still really good at barfing. I agree with the others that it seems in a child that young that there must be other/familial issues at work that need to be examined first.
Yes, very surprised and very sad. 🙁
Why don’t parents set limits to the amount of food their kids eat. Especially desert.
Family functions: I have these nieces that eat 3rds-4ths of desert and their parents say nothing while some adults haven’t even had any. These nieces are already slightly over weight and are 9 and 11. But on that side of the family they think it’s healthy to have fat on kids. They’re always telling me, my kids are skinny when their in the 65% for their weight. What is with that generation =)
Sorry, i just joined you in your rant. But it felt good to get out. Thanks!
man this is just too much to even join in the rantage so I shall just give you a WTF IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE?
thank goodness for people in the medical trenches like Dr J.
Children learn what they live.
It’s yet another sign of the obsession our society has with weight and appearance. Sadly, in our affluent culture, the focus seems to be on appearance (all manner of appearances, not just physical), rather than living healthy, active and productive lives.
Sad.
That is absolutely horrifying.
Strongandhealthy- that is so good to hear that nutrition is being taught to them! It really needs to continue to be taught throughout junior high and high school.
Crystal- the scary thing is, there doesn't seem to really be anyone doing anything to MAKE changes…
Kelly- it's just a recipe for disaster.
Charlotte- and that question of "where did they learn this" keeps echoing in my head…
Juliet & Sassy- isn't it?!
Fitness Surfer- you are MORE than welcome to rant anytime you want around here:) And agreed, it seems that many parents these days don't stop their kids from eating constantly- and eating poorly in terms of nutrition.
MizFit- agreed!
Bag Lady- yep, its all about the appearance. That's what dieting is all about, right? Not about the health problems, goodness no. It's about striving for that model-skinny ideal.
I’m surprised, but then again I’m not. That’s what happens when the thin ideology is everywhere in culture.
That is beyond disturbing! I am so saddened by the purging part.