| We know that children are becoming obese at an | | | | pizza deliveries and "super-size" is off limits. Diane |
| alarming rate. We know fat kids become fat | | | | and Cathy have identified that they are emotional |
| adults. We know that obesity is the second | | | | eaters. Now they are talking about their negative |
| leading cause of preventable death in this county. | | | | emotions rather than fostering them with |
| We know that obese children will be faced with | | | | high-calorie, high-fat out-of-control eating. They |
| huge health risks that will compromise their quality | | | | are working to improve physical fitness as well, |
| of life as adults. We know that obese children are | | | | walking together three nights a week. Diane |
| the target of hate and ridicule by other children. | | | | doesn't want bariatric surgery to be Cathy's last |
| We know that fat children are shunned by their | | | | and only hope. "I want to make things better for |
| peers. And we know it is the parent's | | | | her, I don't want her to suffer like I did all those |
| responsibility to make sure their children do not | | | | years. I want to correct what I've done wrong |
| become obese dooming them to lifetime of | | | | by feeding her too much of the wrong things. I |
| disease, heartache and suffering. | | | | don't want her to go through surgery. " |
| One of the most painful things about obesity is | | | | Cathy has reluctantly made lifestyle changes along |
| we seem to get it from our parents and pass it | | | | with her parents. After three months of |
| along to our children. I know a woman, Diane, who | | | | improved eating habits and exercising she is down |
| could not celebrate her bariatric success because | | | | 10 pounds. Her BMI is 39, she started at 41, just |
| she had a teenage daughter who came home | | | | at the cusp of qualifying for surgery. Dad has |
| from school day after day to hug a giant pillow | | | | joined the fight against fat as well. He's lost |
| and cry - her classmates called her "Fatty-Cathy". | | | | almost 20 pounds. "I'm proud of her," said Diane, |
| Cathy is fat, or as her parents like to call her | | | | "and I tell her everyday. I think we are getting |
| "stout." Racked with guilt Diane asked "How in the | | | | closer. I want so much to save her from feeling |
| world can I celebrate my weight loss when my | | | | the pain." |
| own daughter is suffering? I feel pretty guilty | | | | We know that children are copycats: they are |
| about it. I'm her mother. I have fed her and | | | | more likely to do what their parents do, not what |
| taught her bad eating habits. I've actually written | | | | their parents tell them to do. Given that, Cathy's |
| notes to excuse her from physical education | | | | parents are doing the right thing for her by |
| classes. I gave her my genetic background, then I | | | | adopting a new family lifestyle that will ultimately |
| made the worst of it." | | | | improve the quality of life for all of them. Bad |
| As if "normal" teen-parent relationships aren't | | | | eating habits are not impossible to break and |
| difficult enough, imagine having a mother beside | | | | exercise is not impossible to incorporate into our |
| herself with guilt and a daughter angry and jealous | | | | daily lives. Diane's surgery was simply the catalyst |
| over her mother's weight loss. When I asked | | | | this family needed to overhaul years of |
| Cathy how she felt about her mother's new | | | | destructive habits. |
| figure and improved health she was angry. She | | | | Cathy's parents have realized, by way of their |
| said, "How do you think I feel? She is wearing the | | | | own health crises, that eating is one of the most |
| cute clothes my friends wear and I have to order | | | | fundamental health-related behaviors that can be |
| fat lady clothes from a catalog. I wear my dad's | | | | controlled. They are working together to improve |
| old raincoat because we couldn't find a cute coat | | | | the quality of life for the entire family. |
| in my size. How do you think I feel?" she wept. | | | | As for the emotional issues: Diane's guilt and |
| Even though she has pleaded earnestly to have | | | | Cathy's jealousy; they are doing their best to |
| surgery, Cathy's parents are strongly opposed to | | | | work through those issues on their own. But |
| the 16-year-old having bariatric surgery. They | | | | Diane admits it is stressful at times and family |
| believe the family can learn from Diane's life-long | | | | counseling may be in order. "Years down the road |
| battle with obesity and make small steps to | | | | I don't want us to be a mother and daughter who |
| improve Cathy's health, ultimately resulting in | | | | never speak to each other because we didn't |
| weight loss. | | | | resolve these issues. I think there is a chance |
| They are cooking healthy meals together and | | | | here for us to become closer." |
| monitoring portion sizes. They are learning to read | | | | Copyright © 2005 Kaye Bailey - All Rights |
| nutritional labels. There are no more late night | | | | Reserved. |