My BodyBlog

On a recent trip to the vet with my sick cat, I noticed several pet owners with their dogs and one thing they all had in common is that the dogs were all overweight!  These pet owners did not realize the serious harm they are doing to their pets’ health by feeding them too much food and the wrong kind of food.  I’ve known some of these pet owners, and some of my relatives have had overweight dogs.  They say they loved their pets, but they did not understand the fundamental and direct relationship between their dog’s nutrition and good health.  Although well-intentioned, I feel many pet owners are really acting selfishly, fulfilling their own needs to feel loved and wanted by indulging their dogs, who, of course, show affection to their owners in the quest for more food.  A sensible, truly loving dog owner will give their dog exercise and the proper amount of nutritious food so they can have good health and a high quality of life as they age.

Now here’s a bigger tragedy - many adults do the same thing with their children and grand-children.  Food is given as a reward for being well-behaved and to receive attention and affection from the child.  Over eating is encouraged by parents who get self-gratification by seeing their children devour the food they’ve prepared.  Eating what a parent is cooked is seen as a sign of love.  Not to eat is seen as an insult or sign of disrespect.  Shame and guilt are used as emotional ploys to get the child to eat.  Fast food and junk food becomes a staple of daily life out of convenience or ignorance.  Exercise has little importance as the child is allowed to lead a sedentary lifestlye in front of the TV or computer.  A child who is getting fat is criticized for how they look while the parent continues to support the same poor lifesltye choices that are causing the situation.  I am confident that at least one of the above circumstances exists in the life of every overweight child out there.  As they grow into adulthood they are left to deal with the contradiction of a society which prizes fitness and healthy looking bodies, however they have little or no good habits or knowledge on which to change their own lifestyles…they are left to find their own way, some find the path to a healthier life, some don’t.  Many of the ones who don’t, they die prematurely from health problems either caused by or made worse by their unhealthy lifestyle. 

I am one of the lucky ones who has found their own path to a healthy lifestlye, and I’m thankful for it every day.