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

OMG I can't believe she's brought him ready meals and Gummy Bears in hospital??!!

Jesus wept.

What can be done with parents who can't be bothered to feed their kids properly?

She wants to stay in control and him him fat. It's so messed up.

Not watching it yet but I plan too.

It's actually child abuse and should be treated as such. It would be if they were going the other way and starving the children.

I am nkt even watching and I can imagine what's going on...

@DaysThatEndInWhy - it’s not about comparisons. It’s about a show which, however serious it can be, puts children on display, makes them objects of entertainment for masses, objects to study and compare, makes them m a scary lesson to learn from.
Why would any parent do this? Those children go to school, have a circle of friends and schoolmates who themselves or their parents will watch the show.
What society do we live in where voyeurism has become normalised?

I do hear you to an extent, but you could really say that about any documentary where the participants are to some degree, vulnerable.

I used your comparison because when you spoke about those shows in general you implied that a televised weight loss competition and a medical documentary should be lumped into the same category of entertainment, and I disagree. Personally, I view documentaries as being more instructive than entertaining or voyeuristic.

Anyway, having watched it, I felt it was presented really sensitively (from the children’s’ perspectives at least) and can hopefully raise awareness that it’s not as simple as just eating too much; that the contexts and dynamics of these people’s lives is massively relevant to their situations and outcomes. Maybe their circles of friends and their parents will learn something too.

Oh honestly you are being daft to criticise a programme with out even watching it. I saw it last night and it was very good. Gave huge insight into how families and NHS staff really need to work together if the child is going to lose weight long term. It was very sensitively handled and not at one point was the child made out to be a glutton. Childhood obesity is a major issue in this country and we would be failing children if it was not addressed the programme goes to show the work NHS staff have to do to support kids and families. I thought is was very good.

Do you think overweight kids are not bullied already? Yes being on TV has a potential to make it worse but perhaps the parent and child who took part were willing to on the basis that it might help other families going through the same thing.

I thought it was really sensitively done. I did however want to jump into the TV and gives Tommy's mother a bloody shake!

Just put it on. It's sponsored by Dominoes pizza.

Just put it on. It's sponsored by Dominoes pizza.

Smart PR there actually

Errm seriously? I don't think so

@cheesecakeorchocolatecake Yes definitely. She needs to allow the medical professionals to help.

Errm seriously? I don't think so grin grin

Yeah. Now Dominos can claim they are helping with obesity next time someone tries to blame them.

However, I think it's not the actual programme which is sponsored but rather the time slot?

Actually it frustrates me. My ds has disabilities (not obesity), and we are constantly on waiting lists and chasing up appointments to get help and support. This lady and her child have an entire team trying to help, and are there in hospital, but the mother is refusing to engage with the help and support they are trying to give.

However, I think it's not the actual programme which is sponsored but rather the time slot?

Ahh that's probably why I couldn't find anything on Google.

But Tommy did it in the end! Well done Tommy!

@blubberball I hope Tommy's mother watches it back and is thoroughly ashamed of herself.
I really felt for Lilliana's mum, though. I was so pleased that they found a cause that they could then try and treat. Fingers crossed life gets better for all of them.

I saw a bit now. I think it's very much needed. If only 1 parent will see it and it will clock in their heads that "oh god. That's me, isn't it", it's one child with early death risk less in the world.
And that's good. Sometimes people don't see they are being irrational until they see it on someone else.

That's true.

They did say that 85% of parents with overweight kids, can't recognise it.

That's pretty scary for the kids.

The thing that worries me about these programmes is that the cases are at the extreme end, naturally as it’s more ‘entertaining’, but that parents of overweight children who aren’t quite so severe feel lulled into a false sense of security- that their child isn’t THAT bad after all. I’m glad they found an underlying cause in Liliana’s case, but think that must be quite rare- I reckon there’ll be lots of people watching that saying ‘see, that’s what I/my family member has!’