Are we all 'skinny challenged' compared to the world?

[holden]

I don’t have Netflix but have seen other docs and read articles about agri big business down through the years. The upshot is I eat less animal protein and am willing to pay more for whatever I do buy to ensure it’s raised more humanely and cleaner.

That's how I feel too. It's surprising how difficult it is to find more humanely produced animal protein.

 

[NYCgrrl]

That's how I feel too. It's surprising how difficult it is to find more humanely produced animal protein.

Here’s one source that is available online. They are having their freezer sale this month so the prices are a little bit better than normal:

https://www.dartagnan.com/dartagnan-philosophy.html

 

[tink2424]

I’m always happy to have a serious conversation. Aversions exist in all cultures across the globe. Texture issues and preferences exist in all cultures across the globe. The difference between cultures is the amount, type and VARIETY of foods. You need options in order to develop preferences. KWIM? What are the readily available options? If there isn’t much, then it’s hard to develop a preference for one food over another.

And unfortunately there absolutely are children in this world that have aversions so severe they will starve themselves if there isn’t medical intervention. the intervention can be as little as a nutritionist or as great as “forced feeding” through an ng tube or who knows what else. Thankfully we never got to that point of medical feeding.

BUT…please know all of us moms in this boat have had that forced feeding or we can call CPS held over us. We are told that their weight is a concern, (my son finally hit 25 lbs at…..6 years old)we are questioned on every little thing they take in. We have had to weigh food, make lists, be questioned like we don‘t know how to feed our child.

And it absolutely gets to the point where you will quite literally let them eat whatever they want because they’re eating and you’re scared that not only are they so small and unhealthy but also that somebody is going to come take your kid away. That’s the reality for many of us, not all. I do know there are many learned behaviors etc but still within those, do we really know what the issue really is? Is it the paremts? We just don’t know.

So as somebody that was a terrified mom basically being TOLD I wasn’t enough for my child, I refuse to judge another mom that has fallen into a food trap, regardless of why they are there.

ETA: my son’s food aversions…started with formula..it went downhill from there. It was awful . He’s 25 now. Has a very limited diet and weights a whopping 120 . But he’s a happy guy.

I am very picky eater (better now than I was as a kid) but I do have to say that you do seem to have more of a rare case than what we are talking about in general here. I don't think any of the posters talking about healthy eating starting at home and that parents need to do better are talking about cases like yours.

There are many reasons why we are more overweight and a lot that have been mentioned here. The one thing I would add is that even our nutritious food is lacking vitamins and minerals that we need that could be driving up our weight as well.

 

[holden]

Here’s one source that is available online. They are having their freezer sale this month so the prices are a little bit better than normal:

https://www.dartagnan.com/dartagnan-philosophy.html

Thanks for this. I have seen D'Artagnan products in stores too. Mostly their sausages/truffle butter.

 

[gmi3804]

Thanks for this. I have seen D'Artagnan products in stores too. Mostly their sausages/truffle butter.

I order their garlic sausage for when I make cassoulet. They make good products.

 

[TheIncredibles!]

I am very picky eater (better now than I was as a kid) but I do have to say that you do seem to have more of a rare case than what we are talking about in general here. I don't think any of the posters talking about healthy eating starting at home and that parents need to do better are talking about cases like yours.

There are many reasons why we are more overweight and a lot that have been mentioned here. The one thing I would add is that even our nutritious food is lacking vitamins and minerals that we need that could be driving up our weight as well.

Is it rare though? And how would one tell at a glance somebody like my child vs somebody that was “allowed” to be picky?

 

[Pea-n-Me]

These are thoughts from a US Mom living in France coming home to US food and prices.
Similar to what people here have said.
It does make you think…

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-12947223/american-mom-paris-food-diet-shock.html

 

[TipsyTraveler]

These are thoughts from a US Mom living in France coming home to US food and prices.
Similar to what people here have said.
It does make you think…

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-12947223/american-mom-paris-food-diet-shock.html

I don’t want to recommend The Game Changers documentary yet again, third time now, because people are going to start thinking I have a financial stake in it but I thought of you while watching it. I know you counsel cardiac patients on heart-healthy diets and that was one of the primary focuses of the film, so I was wondering what you would think of it.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I don’t want to recommend The Game Changers documentary yet again, third time now, because people are going to start thinking I have a financial stake in it but I thought of you while watching it. I know you counsel cardiac patients on heart-healthy diets and that was one of the primary focuses of the film, so I was wondering what you would think of it.

I will watch it at some point. I have watched others like it. But what I teach to patients comes from the latest research-based medicine and studies that are part of the educational system of the hospital I work for. I personally take some things I see in a documentary with a grain of salt (pun intended ), especially when I may have real-life experience that differs from whatever it is they’re trying to convey. Is there something in the documentary that you think I would disagree with? Or that differs from anything I’ve said here?

 

[TipsyTraveler]

I will watch it at some point. I have watched others like it. But what I teach to patients comes from the latest research-based medicine and studies that are part of the educational system of the hospital I work for. I personally take some things I see in a documentary with a grain of salt (pun intended ), especially when I may have real-life experience that differs from whatever it is they’re trying to convey. Is there something in the documentary that you think I would disagree with? Or that differs from anything I’ve said here?

No, not at all! I was just curious what your take would be on it since this is your specialty. Like, would you watch this and think vegetarian or vegan diets have an edge over omnivore diets when it comes to preventing or reversing heart disease, would you think the official dietary guidelines should reduce meat consumption recommendations to reflect that, etc. Or maybe you’re already familiar with some of the studies they cited and have opinions on them. That kind of thing.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

No, not at all! I was just curious what your take would be on it since this is your specialty. Like, would you watch this and think vegetarian or vegan diets have an edge over omnivore diets when it comes to preventing or reversing heart disease, would you think the official dietary guidelines should reduce meat consumption recommendations to reflect that, etc. Or maybe you’re already familiar with some of the studies they cited and have opinions on them. That kind of thing.

Ah! Will try to watch soon, thanks. In general I think that what people want to eat is really personal preference, but they could usually learn how to eat better, and it’s pretty basic. Smaller serving sizes, lower sodium and fat/low cholesterol, a good variety of foods from all food groups, and daily fiber, combined with exercise, lowered stress, good sleep, a reasonable weight, etc. is really what we know helps prevent heart disease.

I’m not sure heart disease is really reversible, I guess it depends what it is. For instance in the British Heart Foundation article I posted above there is some inflammation going on in the arteries of children’s hearts related to their diets. They didn’t specify in the article, and more research is likely needed, but perhaps that inflammation could be reversed in children from a dietary standpoint if better foods were chosen. But how likely are children to change their diets once used to them? Seems it’s better to start off with healthy eating habits and continue than to try to change, but nothing is impossible. OTOH, once coronary artery disease has set in it continues to grow over time. Many factors besides diet influence that, including family history, but risk factor reduction can try to keep it at bay.

I mentioned something earlier in the thread and that was that a lot of cooking I see today involves a LOT of sodium and a LOT of fat, and I think that’s something that really needs to be watched, regardless of the type of diet we eat. We seem to be eating so much cheese! Too much. A Registered Dietician I know once told me that cheese is something to have just once a week! (Personally I think that might be too extreme, but it is something to think about.) I watch videos where people are putting bags and bags of cheese and whole sticks of butter and packages of sour cream or cream cheese, etc., into dishes they’re making. Also a lot of salty canned, packaged and seasoning packets are used, too. I mean, I get it, meals are challenging to make on busy weeknights for families and working folks. But those are still things we need to take into consideration, and ideally, early on.

I’ll post my thoughts after I watch the show, fwtw. I agree that as an animal lover, factory farming is hard to watch, and often pretty gross, as well. But I’m not one of those people who won’t watch because it upsets me. We all should know where our food is coming from and make our choices accordingly.

 

[Wakey]

I’m from the UK which also now has a huge obesity problem,
it generally coincides with the rise in processed / fast foods and sugary drinks.
In the 1980s/ early 1990’s the U.K. was a noticeably skinnier country than the U.S., but now there is not that much difference.
The people in US walk less, as the cities were built around the car. The opposite in the U.K. Many more in the US seem to drink Soda all the time also. But my, there are many, many obese and unhealthy people in the U.K. also.
Note I am no slim Jim myself and am overweight my doctor tells me.
The US/ UK diet of high sugar, processed foods is killing us both sides of the Atlantic. The U.S. is worse than the U.K. with a life expectancy of around 3 years less than the U.K., largely as a result of obesity. And the U.K. is probably the worst in Europe.

 

[NYCgrrl]

The people in US walk less, as the cities were built around the car.

Just to clarify newer American cities have problems with walking not the older ones that were built with walking in mind.
It always startles me when Disney bound parents fret about their children walking a mile or two (a norm in my region) and consider getting strollers for older children.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

Ah! Will try to watch soon, thanks. In general I think that what people want to eat is really personal preference, but they could usually learn how to eat better, and it’s pretty basic. Smaller serving sizes, lower sodium and fat/low cholesterol, a good variety of foods from all food groups, and daily fiber, combined with exercise, lowered stress, good sleep, a reasonable weight, etc. is really what we know helps prevent heart disease.

I’m not sure heart disease is really reversible, I guess it depends what it is. For instance in the British Heart Foundation article I posted above there is some inflammation going on in the arteries of children’s hearts related to their diets. They didn’t specify in the article, and more research is likely needed, but perhaps that inflammation could be reversed in children from a dietary standpoint if better foods were chosen. But how likely are children to change their diets once used to them? Seems it’s better to start off with healthy eating habits and continue than to try to change, but nothing is impossible. OTOH, once coronary artery disease has set in it continues to grow over time. Many factors besides diet influence that, including family history, but risk factor reduction can try to keep it at bay.

I mentioned something earlier in the thread and that was that a lot of cooking I see today involves a LOT of sodium and a LOT of fat, and I think that’s something that really needs to be watched, regardless of the type of diet we eat. We seem to be eating so much cheese! Too much. A Registered Dietician I know once told me that cheese is something to have just once a week! (Personally I think that might be too extreme, but it is something to think about.) I watch videos where people are putting bags and bags of cheese and whole sticks of butter and packages of sour cream or cream cheese, etc., into dishes they’re making. Also a lot of salty canned, packaged and seasoning packets are used, too. I mean, I get it, meals are challenging to make on busy weeknights for families and working folks. But those are still things we need to take into consideration, and ideally, early on.

I’ll post my thoughts after I watch the show, fwtw. I agree that as an animal lover, factory farming is hard to watch, and often pretty gross, as well. But I’m not one of those people who won’t watch because it upsets me. We all should know where our food is coming from and make our choices accordingly.

Thanks for the reply. I do hope you watch. Hearing what you said here, I’d like to see what you think about some of the claims made in the show. I don’t believe there are any factory farm scenes in The Game Changers. Whatever’s in there is pretty tame, I let my six-year-old watch it.

 

[tink2424]

Is it rare though? And how would one tell at a glance somebody like my child vs somebody that was “allowed” to be picky?

Ok, so what is the incidence of children like you describe if they aren't rare?

Also, I'm not sure why someone would need to look at a child and make a determination if they are allowed to be picky. Parents usually know their child best and can work with them to have the best diet possible. And if there are other issues (sensory or other) then they should be consulting the appropriate specialist to get the best course of action.

 

[eandt]

We brought a couple of friends over from the UK for their first disney visit. We had a ball! However, on one day they were acting funny and we finally said "WHAT is it??" and they sheepishly asked why everyone was fat.



I looked around and I guess the views were vastly different than how we all looked in the 1970s. Not sure what has happened.


I don't do world travel, but am wondering...do we as americans look different than non-tourists in the EU and south ameria and australia etc?

And if so....why?

Look at old pictures and video of the the beach or a ball game etc pre 70/80’s … fat was an exception … then look at pictures and videos of today and compare …

 

[gmi3804]

Look at old pictures and video of the the beach or a ball game etc pre 70/80’s … fat was an exception … then look at pictures and videos of today and compare …

The “fat kids” from grade school look healthy by today’s standards!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Thanks for the reply. I do hope you watch. Hearing what you said here, I’d like to see what you think about some of the claims made in the show. I don’t believe there are any factory farm scenes in The Game Changers. Whatever’s in there is pretty tame, I let my six-year-old watch it.

I watched the trailer.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/hear...t_possible_to_reverse_coronary_artery_disease

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I’m from the UK which also now has a huge obesity problem,
it generally coincides with the rise in processed / fast foods and sugary drinks.
In the 1980s/ early 1990’s the U.K. was a noticeably skinnier country than the U.S., but now there is not that much difference.
The people in US walk less, as the cities were built around the car. The opposite in the U.K. Many more in the US seem to drink Soda all the time also. But my, there are many, many obese and unhealthy people in the U.K. also.
Note I am no slim Jim myself and am overweight my doctor tells me.
The US/ UK diet of high sugar, processed foods is killing us both sides of the Atlantic. The U.S. is worse than the U.K. with a life expectancy of around 3 years less than the U.K., largely as a result of obesity. And the U.K. is probably the worst in Europe.

I agree with this, but I would also add Super Size to the bolded, ie portion sizes have practically doubled in the past 50 years.

 

[Christine]

I watched the trailer.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/hear...t_possible_to_reverse_coronary_artery_disease

From your link: Dr. Ornish had several appearances on The Game Changers.