I saw part of an episode of Oprah last week on eating disorders. How sad, there was a nine year old girl that started eating paper-at school and at home- so she wouldn't eat food and gain weight. There was also a normal sized 5 year old that would only wear a certain kind of pants because they were the only ones that didn't maker her look fat. One of the mothers said it was due to the influence of t.v. and magazines. What are we doing to our children?

-- Cindy (S.E.IN) (atilrthehony@countrylife.net), October 08, 2001

Answers

What i'd like to know is why a five year old is getting that kind of exposure to magazines and tv at all. obviously the parents here have some kind of hang-up or are not effectively parenting their children. just my opinion.

-- mary (marylgarcia@aol.com), October 08, 2001.

I agree that the wrong person is in control of that household. Children naturally come up with strange ideas as they are exposed to world views. It is the parents responsibility to say that it is wrong, take away the t.v., etc. if it is harming the thoughts of the child. What normal 5 year old is worried about fat? How is that family functioning? There are so many more important things to teach children than stressing them out about health food, weight, etc. Kids need more fat than adults anyway. Perhaps that mom should be around more to influence the child in a good way. Do they praise their child enough? I think they said that esteem was a major factor as well. If you are too busy to praise your kids, then you need to cut back on work. That show made me very upset at the parents that think they can just get therapy if something goes wrong. Once you let those thoughts take hold, then they are harder to dispell. Well, if your not willing to put your foot down then your house will be blown every wich way. Sorry, but that is just a SAD thing and very upsetting that it gets so far out of control.

-- notnow (notnow05@yahoo.com), October 08, 2001.

I'll try this again. Speaking of the therapists...I believe on of them said they should get the children to focus on something other than themselves, that's good, but it shouldn't have gotten that far out of hand in the first place

-- Cindy (S.E.IN) (atilrthehony@countrylife.net), October 08, 2001.

It is a shame,

That not one parent in fifty has the intestinal fortitude to turn off a T.V. set, much less just dispose of the thing. I mean if it were not for T.V. then how would we get our directions for life?

The problem is the solution, and for sure the child is not responsible just because the boob tube taught them what they have learned.

-- OH (edcopp@yahoo.com), October 12, 2001.

I writing a paper for my freshman comp class on this subject, How TV influences teens/ children to become skinny and this is a perfect example. If anyone has any info on it please send it to my email address. Thank you.

-- Sarah (Maefly16@aol.com), October 20, 2002.

I don't necessarily agree with all that is being said about it being the parent's fault. I have dealt with both anorexia & bulimia for 4 years now, and I don't blame it on my parent's at all. Although I am 19 and it didn't start until I was 15, I still believe there are a lot of misconceptions about the disease. I come from a very loving, and actually normal family. I in no way blame them. Thank you

-- Beth (Riggsbe01@cs.com), October 31, 2002.