Dr. Phil & Childhood Obesity -- did I hear "lowcarb" in there!?!!?!

Dr. Phil had an episode yesterday on childhood obesity. He mentions 3 ways to make your child obese, but what I found most interesting in the episode is that he had doctors that mentioned that some of the children featured on the show couldn't metabolize carbohydrates normally, so any starchy carb would make them fat. Even an occasional treat (ok, under normal circumstances) is devestating to the obese child. One doctor, Dr. Goglia, mentions that one child is "fat and protein efficient" like her father and that carbohydrates, to them, "are like a gut bomb."

That was refreshing to hear! Could it be that the lowcarb proponents are finally getting some much deserved validation?

The doctors don't specifically say the words "lowcarb" but, in essence, what they are describing is to put the children on a lowcarb regimen.

Notice I say "regimen" and not "diet" -- because, as the doctors mention, you shouldn't put children on a diet. They are growing and need all the nutrients they can get, so restricting calories, especially the way many adults do it, isn't the best thing for children. However, making sure that the foods they do eat are normal-sized portions (and, admittedly, a lot of us, including myself, need to learn what that is these days!) and healthy -- and lowcarb -- will help tremendously. Add activity and you will have a child who's appetite will stabilize to normal levels, his/her nutrition is on par, and will either lose weight or "grow into" their current weight so that they will be a healthy size. That's good news!

My family has always dealt with weight problems. I have never been a "normal" weight, even as a child, although I wouldn't characterize myself as "obese". Other members of my family have had to deal with obesity, however.

I don't want that for my daughter. I make sure that most of the foods she eats are vegetables and meats. I do give her sweet potatoes and some fruit on occasion. She is just beginning her journey of eating real foods, so I will add foods as I go along -- mostly meats and a variety of veggies as the main portions of her diet. No, I am not putting my 9 month daughter on a weight reducing diet! But I do want to make sure she grows up with good habits and sees treats as what they are --- treats.

Of course children learn what they observe so as I change my dietary habits, I am working on changing the rest of my household as well. Christa will learn that we can have cookies in the house, for example, but NOBODY eats a whole package in a day or one sitting! (ok, some of us have to work on that habit.... LOL) My point is that I want to start my daughter off right, but I know in order to do so, our family has to change as well.

Have you thought about how your eating habits are effecting your kids?