To think there is too much emphasis on healthy eating these days?

[Dancergirl]

In particular in schools? It seems that every school has a 'healthy eating' policy these days and it's drummed home what's healthy and not healthy etc. Now I know childhood obesity is on the rise but really...I don't see many overweight children around, let alone obese ones.

I think the real risk is the rise in childhood eating disorders such as anorexia and a psychologist friend of mine told me sufferers are getting younger and younger. Of course it's down to many factors, the whole celebrity culture and desire to be thin being one.

But I don't want my children getting obsessed over healthy eating and a lot of time seems to be spent at school encouraging this. At home I try and give them a good balanced diet but chocolate/biscuits/cake etc aren't banned either.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-12226744

That suggests the same about 10 year olds ribs being visible.

It is quite concerning that as a nation we are starting to consider overweight the norm.

Look up professor Mary Rudolph.

OK, I've looked at that BBC link and I've looked up Dr. Mary Rudolph. Other than the mention in the BBC article, I haven't found anything about appropriate size or look. I've looked at her HENRY website too, but that gives nothing away. Are all of you saying this as common knowledge or have you read it somewhere where I can read it?

Try rudolf sorry autocorrect and google prof Mary rudolf ribs

Yeah, google figured that one out for me the first time. But again, I don't find anything except the same one sentence:

"According to Prof Mary Rudolf, a paediatrician who advises the UK government on childhood obesity, the ribs of a 10 year old should be clearly visible or the child is overweight."

That's all fine and dandy, but it's just the same sentence quoting more or less the same news article in several different papers. I was hoping for something a little more meaty (pun intended) in fact and proof. I'm not disputing her statement, but it doesn't answer any of my other questions. Which, for those who missed it, are: Seeing the ribs while standing up vs laying down? Just see the jut of the ribs at the bottom or be able to see actual separate ribs? From what age, as I'm guessing this doesn't apply to a newborn, does it?

I'm done googling. Can people who want to substantiate the claim find some links for the rest of us?

You must be joking! Come to my school. We have around 4 or 5 clearly obese children in each class and it is VERY worrying indeed. We do talk alot to the children about healthy eating and do lots of fun activities aimed at encouraging a BALANCED diet but still some examples of packed lunches are white bread choc spread sandwiches, 2 packs of crisps, ribena and a twix. I posted on here a while ago about what MNetters thought was appropriate for a "healthy lunchbox policy". The responses were really interesting and varied but in general most people resented any such "guidance" finding it patronising and over controlling.

I do understand this but when I sit on a table with some clearly very overweight kids and see that they have this in their lunchboxes (and it's not just one child, it is many) I think we HAVE to do something. Kids are at school for most days of the year. If they can get into the habit of having a healthy lunch then that is surely a good thing.

countess I vividly drool at the memory remember coming out of school starving, going to the chippy and walking home with a bag of chips, as did my friends. I don't think it's a new thing!

@cherrie I understnad what you are saying but why punish all of them to target some people who may ignore any guidance? And it does feel like punishment.

Also, most healthcare professionals do not recieve adequate trainign in nutrition to be able to advise expertly on childhood nutrition, so how can teachers. Are you sure fussing about 'white bread' is not just middle class snobbery?

The guidelines in schools rarely advise on portion control.

allthatglitters! why is it not feasible for children to play out like they did in the 1990s, what has really changed in the last 20 years?

I believe it's just a cultural change, there's no real reason children CAN'T play out.

The reason my DS can't play out is because there is no one for him to play out with. It's the paedo on every corner innit? Much better to stick em up in there rooms with unrestricted use of the Internet instead

Ahhh their

Children certainly do 'play out' unsupervised in my street and on the nearby estate. This is a fairly 'rough' area of East London. I suspect it's more middle-class areas where this has become taboo - also I guess in 'nicer' areas the families are more likely to have a decent-sized back garden for kids to play in. Here many families are in small flats with no garden, and not much space to play indoors either.

Though I think some of the kids around here could do with a bit more supervision to be honest, especially when I see the little ones running around in the road, or playing with bikes and scooters on the river slipway .

Looking forward to moving to a nice quiet street so the kids can safely play out with their friends. We are on a busy road so no chance.