No, what's alarming is that the parents are probably right and the diet-industry driven "experts" are probably wrong, but have enough money and clout to convince the parents that their kids are unhealthy (and need their products!) when the parents can clearly tell that's not so. It's another case of "Who are you going to believe, me or your lying eyes?" FAT DOES **NOT** EQUAL UNHEALTHY!!!

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Stick to what you know: food. Leave the science to experts like Sandy at Junkfood Science (http://junkfoodscience.blogspot.com).

Please go read her take on the same study (http://junkfoodscience.blogspot.com/2007/12/parents-know-best-when-it-comes-to.html), it might give you a different perspective. Oh, and that picture on this page is offensive - you should stay away from the "headless fatty" images. They are just sensationalist and beneath you.

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I dunno; last I checked food is pretty much linked to weight no matter how you look at it (good, bad, indifferent) and the science of food is under the food umbrella rather than separate or the reverse. The science of food and commentary therein is perfectly acceptable for this site. Please, we are being given "food for thought".

Perhaps if we quit treating the two as separate we would have better choices available, or certainly better information from which to make our food choices.

Personally, I am highly cynical of modern health care and its constantly waffling dictates, specially as industry pays for most of the research (as alluded to in the first comment)and it is common knowledge that research can be biased depending on how a study is designed.

However, as a former teacher and current step-parent (from ages 4 &6 to now 16 & 18), I am also very aware of the condition whereby parents are blind to their own children's faults--particularly when the "fault" like poor eating patterns, is a family trait rather than an individual habit.

Stick two identically-sized kids together and one's parent will think "the other" is fatter.

Sometimes parents' own self issues and defense mechanisms get in the way of seeing what is best for their child.

I am seriously puzzled by the swift cut-direct given this conversation starter.

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Elayne Riggs: Confirmed fat.

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I've read that even doctors have a hard time telling people that their kids are fat, partly because the response they get from parents is close to what the first comment was.

Attacking the messenger doesn't help anyone. I'm floored by how many fat kids I see. Someone, like all of us who know better, should say something.

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If you want proof of this, look no further than the case of the 400 pound 7 year old girl.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVXKWGkeX4Y

Watch how this mother feeds her girl. This is proof positive that parents are often blind to their own children's obesity, and see only their hunger.

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Many scientific studies have linked overweight and obese individuals to such diseases as...
1. Type 2 Diabetes
2. Heart Disease
3. Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
4. Atherosclerosis(Blockage of the Arteries)
5. High Cholesterol

This can lead to heart attacks, strokes, or amputation.

Obese and overweight people ARE unhealthy.

Obesity is linked to food so Slashfood should be able to post this article in order to inform its readers of the rising obesity epidemic...75% of Americans will be overweight by 2015...that is truly alarming and something needs to be done about it.

If your child is overweight, please realize it and get your kid some help. Encourage your child to participate in sports programs, eat healthier, stop drinking sugary drinks and sodas, and get off the couch, and away from the video games. Go to the nearest state park and go for a walk, your child might be surprised what he/she finds in reality, instead of the world of virtual games. Go swim during the summer, hike in the fall, go sledding in the winter, and go play some baseball in the spring.

You might be surprised what good it does for your child.

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