Analysis of Rescuing the Emotional Lives of Overweight Children Book by Sylvia Rimm - Essay Example

Childhood Obesity Childhood obesity creates many more problems than the simple physical issues one might expect as outlined in Dr. Sylvia Rimm’s book Rescuing the Emotional Lives of Overweight Children. Much more lasting damage is occurring on the personalities housed within those overweight bodies as children experience teasing, taunting and overt discrimination from not only their peers, but from parents, teachers and ultimately themselves as well. It was the surprising responses to a questionnaire that led Dr. Rimm to write this book to bring attention to a little considered, little researched yet greatly damaging cycle these children have been caught in that provides little room for success and tremendous costs for failure. The book covers the topic of overweight children from a variety of perspectives based on results of the previously mentioned administered questionnaire, literature reviews and in-field practice. By covering the public health implications of overweight children early in the book (chapter 2) with a section written by her son, Dr. Eric Rimm with the Harvard School of Public Health, the author gets this broadly based topic out in the open and out of the way both at the same time. A discussion of why excess consumption of food and reduced levels of activity occurs as a child begins to gain weight opens the book and sets the stage for the remainder of the discussion. More than just the mathematics of more food plus less exercise equals an overweight child, Rimm goes into deeper detail to look at the emotional aspect of both of these questions. Food becomes equated with love, good times, special occasions and celebration. To deprive children of these foods automatically induces an impression of punishment whether that was the intent or not. At the same time, because of natural awkwardness or as the result of an increasing middle section, many of these kids are not as coordinated, quick, able or flexible as other kids, inducing a further punishment idea behind the concept of activity which further pushes them to avoid exercise. The rest of the book deals with the emotional impact of being overweight from many different angles. Explaining how being overweight can affect a child’s self-esteem, self-confidence, relationships with peers and acceptance of self, the impact this has on their academic careers as they evaluate themselves and as teachers evaluate them based on preconceived notions of the “fat and lazy” variety, exploring why these children’s interests are typically much different from the interests of average weight children, the reasons why sexual maturity might come earlier and the family conditions that typically contribute to overweight in children, Rimm paints a grim picture for the success of overweight child in attempting to overcome these hurdles to achieve a healthy lifestyle. This cycle sees the child increasing gaining weight as a result of the emotional turmoil that occurs as other children begin to make fun of them or as they perceive themselves not being able to keep up with other children on the sports field. They begin seeing themselves as somehow less than average weight children in every way. Many adults reinforce these beliefs with the idea that an overweight child must be lazy and not as bright as other children. Perceiving these impressions of others, these children retreat to food as comfort while still shunning physical activity that further contributes to the weight problem. Although this is a bleak picture and one that might seem hopeless to many, Rimm does not make the issue seem an impossible task to overcome. Throughout the book, Rimm includes success stories of adults who overcame adolescent overweight to achieve happy, successful, healthy adulthoods as well as stories of parents who have successfully aided their overweight children to face the abuse of the world around them. Rimm includes helpful tips and suggestions on how teachers, parents, friends and, most importantly, the overweight child herself can help to both overcome the taunts and discrimination to find enjoyable forms of physical activity and discover healthier ways of eating that will lead to a satisfying and healthier lifestyle. The message of the book is not only an astounded wake-up call to the damage being inflicted on these children, but also a tool of empowerment, giving these children and those who love them the courage, strength and direction to achieving a happier future. That overweight children are generally not as happy, active or social as average weight children was not a surprise to me as I read this book, but the reasons why these children gained weight and kept gaining revealed a cultural attitude I hadn’t realized I carried. Overweight children, even when seen as part of a crowd, always seem to be somewhat withdrawn from the group, as if they somehow never quite belonged. While reading this book, though, I realized that I had never given much thought as to the reasons why these children didn’t just lose the weight that caused them to remain on the outskirts of the crowd. Like many others, I just assumed they went home to eat snacks and watch TV all afternoon, without giving the matter any deeper thought. The way in which Dr. Rimm presented the emotional issues that drive these children to overeat and keep them out of sports and other physical activities was completely understandable and eye-opening. I have witnessed cases in which the coach of the team made disparaging remarks about the inabilities of a player within easy ear-shot of other children as well as how those thoughtless comments were repeated among the children later on. Although I didn’t feel it was right, I didn’t really consider how those comments were being felt by the individual they were made about. With this kind of discouragement in trying to participate in sports or other activities, its no wonder overweight children soon drop out of organized activity. With decreased stamina, coordination and adverse peer support, it would be very difficult to motivate oneself to participate in any kind of a solo activity that might help the weight situation. As a majority of the overweight children in the study also indicated they spent a lot of time at home alone, snacking emerged as the only form of sensual gratification they had. Rather than allowing myself to fall into the default mind-set of viewing overweight children as fat and lazy, I now view overweight children as emotionally distraught individuals who desperately need a helping hand to discover where their strengths and values lie. If I were a pharmacist dealing with a parent or child who approached me with a question of how they can lose the weight that is causing these problems, I would have several new suggestions that I might not have thought about before. I would anticipate that anyone approaching a pharmacist about weight issues would be looking for a quick-fix pill treatment that would help the extra pounds simply melt away as they say in the commercials. However, I would suggest instead that they begin working with a nutritionist to develop a better diet and replace all snack foods in the house with apples, oranges, bananas and other healthy foods that can be easily and quickly prepared while the child is watching TV. I would encourage the parent to involve the child in deciding what types of foods they would like, but to make sure to cross any items low in nutritional content off of the shopping list. In addition, I would suggest they begin a family tradition of a walk around the block, a bike ride, roller blading or other physical activity that everyone can enjoy. By doing things together, the overweight child does not feel as much of a stigma of being singled out and has the enjoyable experience of spending time with others. Children that spend a lot of time alone at home should be given special attention, perhaps working out an arrangement where they can spend time with friends after school, join a club of some kind at which they are actively engaged, even if it is something like the chess club. Although they would still be essentially sedentary in their activities, Dr. Rimm points out that time spent in front of the TV involves even less physical processes than sitting in a chair and reading a book. Strictly limiting the time a child spends in front of an electronic screen can have a large impact on the level of involvement they experience in other aspects of their lives. Whenever possible, it is important to involve the child in the decisions being made, giving them the chance to empower themselves and take responsibility for their own salvation in the process. Only when a child takes ownership of their weight problem can significant improvements be made. In the meantime, it is important that parents reinforce how the child is valuable in other ways. Because my time would probably be limited as a pharmacist, I would definitely recommend that parents purchase this book as a first step in helping their child to become healthier, both inside and out. References Rimm, Sylvia. (2004). Rescuing the Emotional Lives of Overweight Children. New York: St Martin’s Press. Read More