A diet book for kids

[Touchstone]

Negative body image in kids is a serious issue.

I think thats an unhelpful over-simplification. [Not by you, but by the media.]

Childhood obesity in developed nations is a serious societal and personal issue (but in the widest view it's actually no big deal).

It leads to increased health costs for society and the individuals, and to shortened life spans and reduced reproductive opportunities. Parents who allow their children to overeat and underexercise are failing to protect their genetic heritage. But non-survival of the least fit is crucial to the survival of a species so...meh.

Low self-esteem is perhaps a serious issue. I say "perhaps" for two reasons.

1. In our celebrity obsessed culture it is probably extremely widespread. We're too fat, or too skinny, or we're not great cooks and we can't sing, or act, or dance, or marry the right person, or drink enough or take as many drugs as a rock god, or fuck like a porn star or earn enough or whatever. All of us are crap at something, and we know what that is and if we're honest with ourselves we'd really wish it were different even if we can't actually bring ourselves to make it so.

2. Even though that seems bad, I'm wary of a rose coloured view of history. I'm not sure the chimney sweeps of Victorian London or even the unemancipated "upper class" women of the time felt entirely positive about their lot.

I actually suspect that a "feeling that things could be better in ones life" is probably how most people feel (and have always felt) most of the time. About something. And that dis-satisfaction with ones lot is probably the fundamental driving force of mankind.

I'm not at all sure that patting every roly poly kid on the head and saying, "you're a great kid. Have another donut while I punch in the faces of all the kids who say different." is really the best way to go. I think we should be telling them "you are too big, you can change that, I'll help, this is what we can do..."