TV show about child obesity

[EerieSilence]

I was truly horrified to hear about this show. There's so much talk about parents should apply judgment when they post something about their children, like photos or videos on social media but this show just takes it to another level.
As far as I know these shows normally don't achieve a lot, the Biggest Loser show in the USA being a prime example of preference of entertainment over serious results (nypost.com/2015/01/18/contestant-reveals-the-brutal-secrets-of-the-biggest-loser/).

Channel4 are now showing children trying to do the same. I have serious doubts they are going to achieve anything positive except for singling out those children as the obese gluttons with no will power.
I am certain there are more serious approaches to the obesity epidemics which don't involve TV audience and if there aren't, shouldn't the government put more effort into creating them?

www.channel4.com/programmes/100-kilo-kids-obesity-sos

Just had a quick Google. It's not the Biggest Looser for children, it's a documentary about a clinical child obesity service.

@cheesecakeorchocolatecake - yes. Would you like to be the child whose face will be plastered all over the internet as "the obese kid"?

It’s up to the parents. There’s channel four docs about transgender kids, kids in foster care, kids in poverty, kids in war zones, kids in pupil referral units. This is nothing new. And it’s not ‘obese’ it’s obese. It’s a real thing. Or are you one of those people with a five year old in age 10-11 school uniform saying they’re ‘big boned’.

I agree with @Chillicheese123. Not sure if I'd consent for my child to go on it, but it's no different to the many other documentaries about children in adverse circumstances.
It's a real issue. Maybe it will help some of those watching realise that their children are at risk of serious health issues, or teenagers realising themselves.

@Chillicheese123 - no I am one of the parents where nobody in the family except the youngest cat is even a pound overweight. We are all sporty, slim and have a pretty healthy diet and have always been, I haven't been over UK size 6 for the past 30 years except for when I was pregnant.
I am still doubting that the publicity is beneficial for the children. It's not their fault and they don't deserve to be publicised this way.

Why don’t you watch it tonight and then pass judgment. The adverts I’ve seen for it look like it’s dealt with fairly compassionately.

Thanks for reminding me 😊

I agree with chillicheese... there was a documentary about the anorexia clinic specifically for children a few years ago. These things are a real issue and people burying their heads in the sand that their dangerously overweight children are “stocky” or “due a growth spurt” (when already hugely tall as overweight children often are) does need challenging.

I think it's best to watch the programme before judging it. Maybe it's really helped the families involved?

I think it is good for raising awareness. There are so many parents who are in complete and utter denial about their children being obese and use words like big boned, solid, stocky and chunky whilst their child is actually very very overweight. If the programme educates parents on how to deal with it, make changes and help their kids then I am all for it.

Parent of an obese child here. I'm hoping it will be useful/ helpful/ enlightening.
I would never let my child feature on it though- he's quite an introvert- but I am grateful for those that do allow their children to be filmed.

And as far as singling out those children as the obese gluttons with no will power is concerned, I suspect this show is trying to challenge those assumptions, which is welcome.

Obesity is a horrific disease, all the more so because it’s so visible and perceived societally to be the fault of the sufferer. These children are already singled out, whether the cameras are there or not. I think a documentary on the clinical treatment of childhood obesity is a great idea.

You all raise a fair point, however, I really would like to know the impact on children participating on the show.

Have you seen it?
Or are you jumping to your own conclusions?

I always think any child who is put on tv by their parents may well live to regret it in later life, however well intentioned the programme.

well, it's not like people will reveal a big secret on the show are they? If a child is obese... pretty sure everyone they know will have noticed!

@hobnobsaremyfave it’s not about it. No matter how sensitive that issue is handled, the children are out there on display. All talk about how the series will help others but. that makes those children objects, a lesson to learn from. It takes away their individuality and humanity to certain extent to make them props for the better good.
How do they see it now and what impact will it have on them in few years when their faces still be still searchable and on display?
I have my objections to those shows in general and in particular when children are involved. At the end of the day, this is not a programme for education, it’s entertainment.
TBH, I would never allow my child to participate in any of those shows. I don’t think the impact was ever researched or considered.

I don’t think the impact was ever researched or considered.

What is your basis for thinking that?

I have serious doubts they are going to achieve anything positive except for singling out those children as the obese gluttons with no will power.

Why on earth would you even think that way? It's not the children who need 'will power', it's their parents who are in charge of their diet and exercise, not the children!

At the end of the day, this is not a programme for education, it’s entertainment.

How do you know? Have you seen it? I thought it was being shown for the first time tonight.

As an aside, I refused to watch The Undateables for ages because I didn’t like the way they advertised the show when it first came out and thought it was going to be taking the piss out of people with various problems. When I eventually did what I actually watched was a very sweet programme, nothing like I’d been expecting at all.

Do you equally object to other documentaries where they have children and NHS staff helping them?
People need to see it. I am pretty sure it's going to be more about showing the delusional parents tbh... It should

What show is this please? Or chanel if you don't want to advertise.

Ah bloody hell, ignore me! Just realised it's at the end of the OP! Sorry

OP, you haven’t watched it and yet you’re still clinging to this bizarre theory that it’s some kind of ‘Junior Biggest Loser’. It’s not. It’s a documentary about the clinical treatment of childhood obesity.

Disclaimer the producer is a friend
They are a decent person.
Not everyone would participate
I am sure that this will be done sensitively like other documentaries they have made

I am pretty sure it's going to be more about showing the delusional parents tbh... It should

So far, so correct.