evilbrent

I disagree. I feel that I've got a pretty good understanding of genetics and evolution. I'm a science nerd. While it may well be true that overweight parents are statistically more likely to raise overweight kids - I think we can all see that there's an element of non-genetic interaction going on there. Fat parents are quite believably less likely to impart healthy eating habits onto their children, and far less less likely to impart healthy activity habits as well.

Not everything that's exhibited in the phenotype originates in the genotype.

Ok. Maybe it's not 1%. And I'll admit that, because it is in fact a brand new discovery*** I wasn't even aware of such a thing as a 'fattie' gene.

Look. I'm overweight too. At my heaviest I was 60 lb overweight - I would still DIE to only be 10lb overweight. But let's be clear about the source of my problem: I ate too much and didn't move enough. I now ride 16km a day, plus up to 100km on the weekend, and I've managed to get down under 100kg, but it took me 18 months. Somehow it doesn't matter what I do now, I just don't seem to be able to shift this last car tyre. I'm gearing up for a 210km ride in the next 6 weeks and I honestly don't expect to lose any more weight. I think I'm down to the trans-fatty-acid fats now - they're the hard ones.

If it were true that being fat were a genetic thing you would not be seeing this epidemic sweeping the western world - it would have always been like this. The two biggest reasons for this problem are that people don't take personal responsibility for their own condition and... uh. Actually, I can't think of a second one that isn't somehow a part of that.

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To stay on topic - it's certainly not a message that I'll teach my kid "It's ok to laugh at that man because he deserves it".

I think it's a hard one that's best dealt with using honesty, discretion and understanding/validating the child's curiousity.

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*** uh, for some daft reason I can't provide links because I'm new. Google " Gene 'controls body fat levels'" for the article I tried to link to

jtee

I had to read your message a couple of times before I zeroed in on the key point. At first I misunderstood you intent, but this clears everything up for me. No more confusion what so ever.

You are obviously intelligent and articulate, and there is no doubt in my mind that what you have posted has as a well understood intent on your part. It may not be clear to everyone, but I "get it" now. It is almost like putting a puzzle together, you can't just look at one piece and see the bigger picture, but if you start looking at all the pieces, you can start to how it all fits together.

evilbrent

:-)

Joyce

I hope that it all works out.

SageMother

Wow. What else contributes to being over weight? Those factors can't be ignored either.

I find it interesting telling kids what happened to me when I have to sit down because my chronic pain overwhelms me. That moment they see me go pale is usually more fascinating than someone who is unusually short.

Many people with disabilities love telling kids tall tales about their particular difference, it's just that you can't tell which people those are, which is really too bad. I know a fellow who would have had a blast talking about how he got the patch over his eye. It would have been the non-violent version but after he added in the giant squid and the white whale, nothing harmful, just really confusing and only about 1/8th reality, the child would probably still need therapy.

I think one way adults can help kids get a handle on these delicacies is to demonstrate tolerance for others with differences that are not apparent to kids, like the gay couple down the street, or the interracial couple who's child is a classmate. Give it a little thought....that's all it really takes.

janus76

i am a disabled person myself and encounter children like your son i understand why they do it and in general i dont mind as long as the parent or guardian pulls the child up on this straight away and explain that although people are different they are equal and dont deserve rude comments but it is a normal occurance for children to point out obvious differences

Kaytee

I agree you can teach a child to be curious about people who "look" different them then, but you can also teach them not to make rude comments.

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fallon

for sure, anyone with a child who can talk has had this happen to them I'm sure but it's our job as parents to teach them about differences in people. They have to learn that normal people in our society don't go around pointing out others who are different. We have to explain to them the right and wrong way to handle these kinds of things so that they can grow into the kind of people we all want our children to become

Kaytee

absolutly!

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