fat chance!

There is a report out of London overnight which will reignite the IVF debate and also tie in with the current controversy over obesity in countries like Australia.

The British Fertility Society has recommended that obese women be denied free IVF treatments until they have tried to lose weight.  One of the arguments is for medical reasons. Obesity can affect a woman’s chances of in-vitro success and also there are increased risks during a general anaesthetic used during egg collection.

But there are other issues here and some will give more ammunition to fanatics like Right-to-Lifers who oppose the IVF programme.

Penalising obese women from trying to have a baby with the assistance of IVF is almost like saying: ‘Look at you, you fat slob, you don’t have the self-respect or discipline to look after your own body let alone care for a child.’ Brutal… but I can hear people saying it.

And such a punitive proposal makes no allowance for women who are medically obese. So, what’s next? Block the IVF programme if the father is fat ? You could argue that his life expectancy is shorter than that of a fit man and how can he get out and play with the kids?

Frankly, I am suffering information overload about weight gains and weight losses of adults and children.

In the same week – this week – we’ve been told about the epidemic of obesity in our schools and the fact that the number of young anorexics is increasing. Two extremes but people forget that anorexia is a mental illness that turns physical and can be fatal. There was also a report this week claiming that 25 per cent of Australian children under the age of seven have been on a diet. Twenty-five percent. I don’t believe it. Do you?  One in four Aussie kids under the age of seven has been on a diet. I would say, my guesstimate only,  is that 75% of kids under the age of 15 have never been on a diet.

Put all the salads you like in fast food places like McDonald’s and Hungry Jack’s and the kids will still beg for a burger and fries. Same with school tuck shops.

Like so many things it all comes back to the parents. They have to show some parental control, some family discipline. Set an example. If you eat junk food what can you expect?  If you give your child money every day to buy their lunch do you really think they’re going to pass on a pie and get some carrot and celery sticks? Yeah, sure.

Parents hate to hear it but you see a fat kid then have a look at his or per parents.

Friday, September 1, 2006

©Copyright Derryn Hinch 2006