'Anderson Live' Alert: Extreme Dieting for Kids Controversy: How Young Is Too Young? / Co-Host Kimora Lee Simmons / 'Nashville' Star Clare Bowen
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
'ANDERSON LIVE' ALERT: EXTREME DIETING FOR KIDS CONTROVERSY -- How young is too young when it comes to kids and dieting? Ripped from the headlines, the mom under attack for putting her 7-year-old on a diet takes on her critics. Did she go too far? Plus, a powerful warning no parent can afford to miss.
She's one of our wildest co-hosts ever… KIMORA LEE SIMMONS (Style Network’s "House of Fab") joins Anderson to talk about the latest headlines in the "First 15."
“Nashville” star CLARE BOWEN on her big break and her unusual pet.
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Comments
I was very moved by the show today and it was interesting listening to the different perspectives. I personally struggled with anorexia, binging and exercise addiction for over 23 years. I was told by my doctor at the age of 13 to go on a diet, that I was getting a little heavy, however, I don't blame him for my eating disorder. Through my healing I became aware of the beliefs, judgements and misunderstandings that I bought into at a young age that led me to hurt myself with food or starving. Looking back at my experience at age 13, I recognized that the interpretations, rather the mis-interpretations I made at the time were; “I wasn’t good enough, I didn’t deserve to live or experience any pleasure, I was wrong and flawed, it wasn’t okay or safe for me to be me, that my body was wrong and in order for me to be okay and accepted I had to be thin or someone different from who I was.”
Was the way I was experiencing my life at the time reflecting back to me the beliefs, judgments and perceptions I held about myself and the world? Was the eating disorder a symptom, a way I played out those beliefs, judgments and perceptions? Did I develop an eating disorder because of the suggestion given to me from my doctor to lose weight? Was he my teacher, an angel in disguise? Was it part of my destiny to have an eating disorder; what I came here to experience so I can help myself and others heal? Was this an issue I had with needing approval from others in order to approve of myself? Did I not like who I was, feel good enough, worthy or lovable? Did I use eating disorder behaviors to avoid feeling my feelings, numb out and disassociate? Was I trying to feel safe and accepted in a world where I didn’t and I chose to use eating disorder behaviors to comfort and protect myself? Did I identify myself as an anorexic and shrink my sense of self down to completely identify with it and isolate myself in the experience? Did I believe that if I was sick enough, then someone would care about me?
Probably all the above and more, everything happened perfectly for what I’m here to learn and experience. If earth is a classroom where we get to learn and grow and my outer world is a reflection of my inner reality, then all my experiences and everyone in my life then and today are the perfect people to assist me in my healing, learning, growth and development.
The eating disorder served a purpose, it gave me a sense of comfort and safety and it worked up until it didn't.
I've now found new healthy ways to get my needs met and love and appreciate myself and all of my experiences.
Thank you for your show and educating others.
I think this mom is very brave and loves her daughter like most mothers do. Its not a traditional diet because her daughter is allowed to eat pizza and a slice of cake, so the three angry dogs you have surrounded her with are ignorant and lack the confidence to teach their children the proper way to eat for a life time of health. Please forgive me but, look at your audience most of them would have benefited from a healthier diet. There was one women who stood up in suport of the mom and her choice to help her daughter learn portion control and healthy diet. I wish Cooper would have done something other than encourage the three dogs to attack, now thats shameful.
When my son was 9 he was becoming very overeight. I joined Weight Watchers with him. He loved it; was the center of attention at the meetings; cooperated fully in following the guidelines; lost weight and felt wonderful. His pediatrician threw a fit when she heard I'd "put a child on a diet" until she saw the food guidelines. Then she was thrilled. I feel so sad when I see obese children, and their parents don't do anything to help them.
The wife claims that several of Anderson's shows, including this one, are all repeats. Is she right? If so, when may we expect to see some new ones?
Although having never read the book the mom wrote, I see nothing wrong with this. If the mother is simply telling the child to watch what they eat, how is that wrong? Many mothers simply make the food choices for their young children, but this mother is instead teaching her daughter to make smart and educated choices. Should the daughter have instead followed the "medias thoughts" as one of the interviewers suggested, she would be forced into the mind-numbing constraint of being forced into a number one size. Without knowing about food, she would fall on the horrors of diet pills and other unhealthy habits. And I'm seventeen, and the only thing my mother ever said to me, was to "eat everything in moderation" which I believe is the same message this mother is trying to get across.
I don't think the Mother who put her daughter on a diet is saying I won't love you if you gain weight. She is preventing her daughter from hating herself. Look at all the slim women on this panel claiming to be against it!
Obesity is rooted in childhood messages. I remember having diet shots as early as 4th grade, pills in 5th grade, fat camps, shame and blame. My parents both sent me the message that being fat was my fault. That I would be nothing if I was fat. I hid, stole and stashed dirty plates under my bed. That is fear. My weight at early 30's topped out at 311. Nine years post gastric bypass I retain 150-165 weight. I have a 10 year old daughter and a 12 year old son. I do my best to guide them nutritionally but I am so very careful to never diminish their self esteem and help them understand reasonability with food.
Although I have not yet read "The Heavy", I am in support of the message that we need to teach our children what healthy portions and moderation really are. Kids will learn by example. This author is helping her child recognise the difference between nutrition and excess. She is taking a direct approach NOW which I expect will lead to healthy habits down the road. The panel on the show and the audience are quick to criticize but it is obvious that the methods of today's parents are failing which is why our kids are inactive and overweight, so you tell me .... who is the bad parent? - Cynthia, Calgary, AB Canada
Dear Anderson,
We are all enamored that you are a Vanderbilt! Your Mother was an icon to young women to be more than a teacher, a stewardess or a secretary. She was an enterpreneur when most of American women worked for someone else.
Your family history stands on its own!
Bonnie Carniello
I am a 58 year old woman who has struggled with my weight since childhood.I wish my mother knew about the problems my weight would cost me now. I don't believe in putting a child "on a diet" but I do believe in teaching a child proper nutrition.
Ithink teaching your children healthy way of eating early is great. Its no difference in telling them to have a apple rather then candy.I think your just helping program the mind to to think healthy. No you should not put them on the skill.that does not help. Dont wait until the child is over weight to do something about it,than its more harder on the child to reprogram the mind to think diffrently.
Over weight children? I have a granddaughter (9)AND grand son (15) who are over weight. They eat like there is no tomorrow. With their mother over weight, they have no guidance. I say things but no results SO I gave up. Just wanted to comment on child diets. Thank you
Why was her daughter obese? Because of her poor choices in feeding her child. It was her failure and now her child is suffering and will continue to suffer. Healthy eating starts at birth. It is up to us as parents to give our children a healthy diet from the get go. I predict this child will have life long issues with food and her body. I think it is sad that she handled it this way and my heart goes out to her daughter.
This show is nuts. If the lady had an overweight 7 year old they would be jumping all over the mother saying it is child abuse that she let her get like that. There is nothing wrong with developing health habits at a young age.
I can not believe that so many people are attacking this mother! I agree, it is much better when parents can start from birth with a plan for healthy eating but really, how many of us hold up to our strict pre-baby ideals? Or even gave a thought to half of the decisions we now make for our children on a daily basis? My children are in no way on a strict diet but I step-in on food choices all the time, at home and in public. It's our job as a parents!
I struggled with my weight and body image as a child because it was a taboo subject in my house. I had no where to turn for answers about healthy choices. It took years of adulthood to figure it out. So I applaud this mother for giving her daughter the tools she needs to make these decisions for herself as an adult!