Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Fat children - how is it acceptable to OVERFEED your kids?

70 replies

JuanMoreTime · 26/05/2011 15:07

Local pool today.
toddler the size of a house. changing afterwatds with the mum giving it those cheapo Football crazy crisps then they headed off to cafe,
This kids had RIPPLES of fat. If this was he same but underweight he would be in care.

OP posts:
LDNmummy · 26/05/2011 15:13

I do think it is abusive to overfeed your children rubbish, but there may be more to it than meets the eye.

To be honest though, I do tend to judge and would have in your shoes. But then I would probably remind myself that it could be anything and not the parents fault.

QueenCee · 26/05/2011 15:13

Football crazy crisps??? I thought they stopped making those 20 years ago! Bacon flavour i believe? Loved them as a kid too!

MonstaMunch · 26/05/2011 15:13

there was a mum and kid in the doctors surgery the other day. They must have wolfed their way through at least three packets of crisps each, then just as I was called in they started on the chocolate

and they didnt even bloody well offer them around :(

Hullygully · 26/05/2011 15:14

kill it now.

in fact kill all kids now, they'll all be fuck-ups one way or another

HugoFirst · 26/05/2011 15:14

You rarely get a fat kid without fat parents do you?

MrsRyanReynolds · 26/05/2011 15:14

Never mind acceptable, how is it possible??

My toddler eats loads and has the occasional unhealthy treat, and he is normal size.

YANBU - it makes me so mad to see it.

MrsRyanReynolds · 26/05/2011 15:16

"You rarely get a fat kid without fat parents do you?"

Totally agree - never seen a fat kid with slim parents ever.

MrsRyanReynolds · 26/05/2011 15:17

She was probably trying to be healthy by taking him to the pool then ruined it all with the food

itisnearlysummer · 26/05/2011 15:17

MrsReynold Absolutely. My DD (5) is tiny and she eats a huge amount. She also runs around the park and plays in the garden.

It makes me mad too. And the parents always seem to have an excuse for it. Funny how you never see a really overweight child eating fruit!

Itsjustafleshwound · 26/05/2011 15:17

Why do you say it was acceptable??

The issue isn't always as simple as stop feeding, do some exercise ....

cyb · 26/05/2011 15:18

Well I love a football crazy crisp

they're only 130 calories

So YABU

itisnearlysummer · 26/05/2011 15:19

When it comes to children, the issue is usually as simple as "stop feeding do some exercise".

HugoFirst · 26/05/2011 15:19

deffo stop eating
all fatness can be csure by

Not eating

TobyLerone · 26/05/2011 15:21

never seen a fat kid with slim parents ever

Hmm

I'm slim. My daughter is overweight. I don't have crisps or biscuits in the house, she eats exactly the same food in the same portions as her (18 months older and very thin) brother and does far more exercise than I do.

I am very conscious of the food my children eat, and they have home-cooked food with fruit and vegetables for every meal. I even make my own breakfast cereal and bread, FFS.

So I don't think it's possible to judge so harshly cheapo crisps aside.

ivykaty44 · 26/05/2011 15:22

never seen a fat kid with slim parents ever.

I have, fat boy and very slim mum. He is now well built teen with very little fat and he is very active now as he was as the fat child. He was doing around 7-8 hours of sport outside of school when in both junior and secondary - now he is doing even more hours of sport

LiverpoolLeap · 26/05/2011 15:24

It's very possible to have an overweight child who is not being fed crap - it certainly happens. But it is unacceptable to feed them loads of crap, thus ensuring they'll be overweight.

lesley33 · 26/05/2011 15:24

I was a fat child and the rest of my family was thin. I ate healthy food but I was always hungry and my parents gave me healthy food whenever I asked for it. But for me it was obviously far too much food. I don't think my parents could get their head round the idea that a child could complain about being hungry when they have had enough.

And my food was really really healthy. For example I always got fruit for playtime at a school where nearly all of the children had crisps or biscuits for playtime.

I think it is abusive letting a toddler get so overweight, but it may not be because he is eating rubbish.

TobyLerone · 26/05/2011 15:24

I totally agree with that, LiverpoolLeap

Hullygully · 26/05/2011 15:26

I am so fat I can't walk. All my arms and legs just stick off my round middle bit.

My dc are like rakes. Is it because I can't move to get them any food?

lesley33 · 26/05/2011 15:29

And as a fat child I did loads of exercise. Apparently the HV was shocked at how fat I was at an early check up when I was EB.

MrsRyanReynolds · 26/05/2011 15:29

TobyLerone and ivykaty - how old are your children?

I'm sure they're not toddlers.

If they are between the ages of about 7 and 16 then I am sure it would just be deemed as puppy fat that will come off when they have a growth spurt.

I think we are talking here more about people overfeeding their children, which neither of you obviously do.

itisnearlysummer · 26/05/2011 15:29

Too many people equate food with love.

My MIL does this. She over feeds everybody. My DH is overweight (bmi29), his mum's health is poor because she is overweight. Yet when I suggested to her that my DH could do with losing weight for his health, she wasn't at all happy!

She sees feeding us as a sign that she loves us and my DH's weight is proof that she loves him!

MonstaMunch · 26/05/2011 15:30

the kids dont have to be overweight to be at risk

malnutrition from poor and junk food is becoming more and more common :(

TobyLerone · 26/05/2011 15:31

My daughter is 10. I just don't think it's possible to judge someone based on seeing them give their child one packet of crisps.

ivykaty44 · 26/05/2011 15:31

MrsRyanReynolds how old are my dd's? It really doesn't matter how old my dd's are they have nothing at all to do with this thread Confused