to think this is the root of the obesity crisis?

[Somethingorotherorother]

It seems like on every single parenting thread, about bedtimes, sharing, behaviour, potty training etc there are huge numbers of people advocating bribing your child with food for good behaviour. Giving sweeties in the morning for every night a child stayed in bed. Sweeties for every poo on the potty. Sweeties for every day a child didn't bite their sibling. Sweeties for good behaviour at mealtimes. Sweeties for getting dressed in the morning.

Is it just me or is this absolutely batshit crazy!? People are suggesting this like it's a great way to get your kid to behave, but surely it just teaches them incredibly unhealthy eating habits (ie i deserve an edible reward for each unpleasant task) that carry in to adolescence and adulthood the idea that junk food is a normal part of the everyday diet?

It also strikes me as really lazy. Bribing a child with a pack of Haribo is much easier than, say, bribing a child with a fun outing or one-on-one time, which is what we used to get as kids for particularly good behaviour/achievements.

I read somewhere recently that 65% of UK adults are overweight, and tbh reading the way some people are bringing up their kids on here, i can't see that figure improving any time soon.

I don't know anyone who does this. I think it's about the massive issues in the food industry.

The obsession with weight starts from birth. Weighing, stressing about weight gain, the bigger the weight gain the better. So many people switching to formula so they have control over volumes and see a bigger weight gain.

Stressing about toddlers eating. Fat babies and toddlers seen as “cute”. Rules about eating dinner before being allowed a treat.

The weight charts are thought to be wrong now- an average 1 year old should be 8kg, not 10. That’s a massive difference.

Then later we see our kids are fat and start worrying about that, while still also checking if they’ve eaten all their packed lunch at school.

We need to back off with food and weight and let kids self regulate more.
Use clinical signs to indicate a problem, ot a number.

Well all the cross cultural research links poverty to obesity. People have very little to look forward to, so treat themselves with food. Sugar and fat release feel good hormones and that's the addiction side because we are programed to seek out what makes us feel good and is linked to survival.

But do share your own research with the obesity medical experts.

@Coronaextrawithashotofvodka

YABU. The obesity crisis is a bit more complex than a packet of gummy bears after a poo.

This!!

Yes you've cracked it.

Call public health England and let them know it's not a multi-factorial issue often related to socio-economic status.

Twats wasting their time with actual research, statistics and evidence.

I've only ever seen MNers tell OPs not to use food as a reward.

So YABU OP.

I would say MN seems in the "my child has never eaten a piece of cake in their life" camp

I agree. The number of posts saying their kids never, ever has squash - “They love water” - blows my mind. I’ve never met a kid who likes water and wouldn’t hurl themselves at a fizzy drink. The old saying that forbidden fruit tastes sweeter is still literally true.

"Fat babies and toddlers seen as “cute”."

If a baby is milk fed, but fat, then that's not cause for concern. As for fat toddlers, it depends on how fat, a few bouts of teething and a chest infection and the body fat comes in handy. Which is why toddlers carry a bit extra. Then it naturally goes by the time they are 3/4.

There is no one root cause to being overweight nor to the general increase in obesity. I'd say it's a combination of factors. We tend to be much less active nowadays for various reasons, food is cheaper and easier to prepare, and then there's central heating, double glazing and better insulation (we don't need to burn as many calories just to keep warm as we used to). Sweets though? I'd say recent generations of children eat far less sweets than my generation did so I doubt that is a major factor.

Whilst I think YABU I'd also question the fact that giving a sweet in the morning doesn't mean the whole packet or that it is even a sweet. my friends DS was given one of those melty smoothie squares as a 'sweet' whilst potty training. As the whole packet contains 22kcal having one or two a day does nothing.
Also regarding your crisp comment. Whenever anyone has given their DC crisps in the car etc they have been the vegetable crisp type things which again is ridiculously low calories etc.
I think you are oversimplifying a complex issue

Fat babies are cute, because they are seen as thriving. You can't kill thousands of years of evolution/conditioning.

@Ponoka7

"Fat babies and toddlers seen as “cute”."

If a baby is milk fed, but fat, then that's not cause for concern. As for fat toddlers, it depends on how fat, a few bouts of teething and a chest infection and the body fat comes in handy. Which is why toddlers carry a bit extra. Then it naturally goes by the time they are 3/4.

Generally obese babies, when the parents aren’t tall (and white), happen because the mum is overweight or obese or not eating healthily (eating lots of saturated fat for example increases the fat content of breastmilk). The fat paddings for milk fed babies aren’t always natural or something to aim for - which is why they are monitored so action can be taken when the baby is old enough to start moving / weaning.

Bribing a child with one to one attention? Wow op. I'd rather give my kid Haribo now and then if he fancies sweets than reward him with actual parenting but thanks for trying.

I bribe my child with stickers. Is she going to have a huge addiction to stickers as an adult?

@excuseforfights

Fat babies are cute, because they are seen as thriving. You can't kill thousands of years of evolution/conditioning.

A ‘fat’ baby a thousand years ago (delivered naturally and safely for mum and baby) would have been a 6-8 pounder.

YABU.

All cultures have always had doting mothers, fathers and grandparents spoiling their kids with sweet treats.

But the obesity crisis is new. It's a fixture of western capitalism.

I personally believe it's due to a mix of untreated mental health problems (mostly because modern life is emotionally and mentally exhausting, with lots of loneliness and unhealthy societal pressure) and wide availability of very unhealthy food (fueled by an overwhelming economic interest in dumping that crap into our collective throats).
I.e. an overwhelmingly political issue, where individual choice makes only little difference. The fact it's strongly correlated with socio-economic factors is no coincidence.

I've never seen this recommended ever. I didn't do it. I do have an after school treat to bridge the gap between lunch and teatime

I agree with pp that while not a great habit it is not central in any way to the obesity crisis.

Another one who has never seen a thread advocating the bribing of a child using sweets or snacks. That’s not a MN thing. Rewards charts, consequences, time outs, toys/consoles confiscated. That’s MN. Sweeties? No.

Nobody on MN eats anything so vulgar and common as haribo OP! Percy pig from M&S is slumming it on here! Or anything made from sugar. Don't even dare suggest that they go to McDonald's or you'll have the pearl clutchers in at the vapors!

I've only ever seen this in relation to short term potty training. Not for anything else. Did it myself tbh sorted potty training out pretty well and none of my kids are obese or even slightly overweight.
I think the obesity crisis is far more deep rooted than that.

Google the obesogenic map. That is the actually theorised causes of obesity.

Not a very scientific hypothesis op. Seems more like an excuse to heap yet more judgement on parents. Well mothers really, because it's usually us mums that get the blame.

Dd was always bribed with chocolate buttons. (Ds doesn’t like chocolate)

Dd particularly has never been overweight, always on the thin side of normal and eats what she wants
I think though Dc have always done an activity that burns off anything they eat and would run around the garden playing or on the trampoline or just in the park. They were always running.
They were also brought up as vegetarian. Both are now vegan.

You can bribe your dc with chocolate and sweets feed them what you like but if they run around for hours after they will soon burn it off.
It is when they are sat for hours doing homework or in front of a screen that I think is adding to the problem.

I think it’s a factor, along with the socialisation at young age to clear plates ( even though portion sizes are too large) and that toddlers are given constant snacks
There also seems to be a fear of allowing children to get hungry - but actually hunger is good, and learning to recognise it and also stop when full us a key life skill. This is why beaks should be at a table not in front of tv as it’s proven that people eat more when distracted

Combine this with less activity ( less walking, less physical lifestyle in general ) and stressful lives can mean less focus in family meal times and a grab and go culture