Corn

they say it's responsible for obesity in children...seriously, I'm watching this on tv now. The woman that espouses this says that corn is in everything we eat and is making our children FAT. Hmmmmm....I'm not so sure about this. Corn may be in most things...on this I have no knowledge and therefore won't argue for or against. However, the obese kids I've seen in practice sit on the couch, watch tv, dvds, and play their video games ALOT. They have no interest in playing outside, running on the playground, walking the dog, or getting involved in sports. I've blogged on this before when my neighbor swore that if she gave her two year old son whole milk he would get FAT. Her pediatrician told her this. Everyone I know grew up on whole milk AND corn and we are not obese, even mildly so. We played outside...all the time. I played soccer, basketball, tennis, and was a member of the drill team. I also ran track. Though my experience in each of these sports was very time limited...I wasn't any good...I played them anyway.

So, here's Dr. Landlord's treatment outline for obese children:

1. Stop feeding them Goldfish, crackers, and other flour based foods for snacks WHEN THEY ARE VERY YOUNG! Good G-d, people, this sets them up for a diet of chips and the like as they grow.

2. Don't give them fried foods...

3. Don't give them fast food...

4. Give them a lot of fruit...eating a lot of fruit makes the transition to vegetables easier as they get older.

5. Take them outside...play with them...teach them to play outside in the yard by playing hide-n-seek, etc.

6. Don't buy into the "I need this game system b/c little johnny does"...this is a surefire way to encourage couch sitting versus getting out and exploring the world. Besides, these game systems are mindnumbing...look at the kids playing these systems...they are completely unaware of whats going on around them...much more than normal.

7. FOLLOW A NUTRITIONAL DIET AND EXERCISE PLAN YOURSELF...YOUR CHILDREN LEARN FROM YOU!

Now, that's not so hard, is it...it's all common sense but damn if people don't bring their kids in for treatment....