<p>Of course no one is forcing anyone to eat. But the availablilty of obscenely supersized foods for very low prices is very appealing to many people.</p>
<p>Advertising is very convincing, in case you haven’t noticed, and it takes a lot of education to undo the power of a strong ad.</p>
<p>So is something self destructive going on?</p>
<p>Mini, there are a number of doctors who have noticed and have tried to advise their patients. I happen to live in a community where diet is a big part of the medical education, in addition to not smoking or drinking and has been for about 100 years. I am in a specialty where we see the patients long before they develop heart disease and diabetes. We see sports injuries and are telling them to lose wt to prevent arthritis in twenty years (in addition to preventing heart disease and diabetes), so we have the long view in mind. It is so difficult to get people to lose wt. or even to go to center for health promotion where they can get help. It is right up there with stopping smoking in terms of a low success rate. One is pleasantly surprised when the patient complies. Success will come through parent education in order to prevent the problem. Much of it is cultural. It is the poorer people in our society that have the highest rate of obesity.</p>
<p>mini: I think that you are absolutely wrong about doctors. You cannot blame obesity on doctors. Many people want to indulge themselves and eat high calorie foods. Many don’t like to exercise. </p>
<p>You can counsel patients all day long to have a healthy lifestyle, but at the end of the day, they will do whatever they want.</p>
<p>Have you ever spent a week or a month with a doctor, doing preventive counseling or weight management? Why do you think so much money is being spent on it now? Because it is very difficult to influence families in this direction.</p>
<p>Doctors can’t make patients change very easily. People like fried foods, fast foods, sweet foods, etc, etc. How is that a doctor’s fault?</p>
<p>I guess it is easier for ignorant people to doctor-bash and blame doctors for their unhealthy life-styles, instead of taking responsibilty for their own actions. It doesn’t take a doctor to tell you that fatty foods add weight, and that exercise is a good thing.</p>
<p>I think some of this blame the doctor comes from the doctor as god syndrome. Somethings, Doctors no matter how good, just can’t fix. They are often easier to blame than ourselves for our problems. </p>
<p>There is no anti vegitarian focus among MD’s, that’s silly. I’ll believe that when I start seeing “Beef… it’s what’s dinner” posters at my MD’s office or he prescribes a couple of porterhouse steaks as a cure.</p>
<p>No, I go four times a year for my lube and oil. I have three majors, all brought on by lifestyle (stress, lack of sleep, overeating). None of these were my doctors faults, they are mine. I did it to myself.</p>
<p>[I am unfamiliar with vegetarianism and am a little worried about the baby. Should she let her pediatrician know about the vegetarianism? She says she doesn’t need to.]
There’s a few things going on here. First of all, if you look at Indian cultures, it is plain that you can have very healthy vegetarians. It is an American myth that everyone needs meat for proper development. </p>
<p>Second, as a vegetarian, I will say that it’s not easy to be one. A lot of people assume that they know better than you what is good for your body; I’ve done a ton of research, monitor my diet carefully, and eat a helluva lot better than I did when I was a carnivore (and ate meat, meat, and junk food). Yet, there is no shortage of people telling me that there is no way I can be getting enough protein… and there is no shortage of people telling me that, if I get pregnant, I have to eat meat. It’s ridiculous. This is probably very similar to what your daughter is going through. So when you try to talk to her, realize that she’s heard it all before. Trust me, vegetarians don’t have their brains fall out of their head and suddenly forget that infants have special nutritional needs. </p>
<p>If you are really concerned (after doing some of your own research!), then discuss it with her in a very, very non-confrontational manner and defer to her judgment. (Remember when you were a new parent? All of a sudden, your parents were probably all over you. Parenting is the ultimate do-it-yourself, learn-as-you-go job; it’s her baby!) </p>
<p>I recommend approaching the subject by making constructive suggestions. (Those do not include, “Have the baby eat meat at least once a day.”) Suggestions that I would love to give any vegetarian mom are to find pediatricians who understand where she is coming from. A quick way to do this would be to find an Indian doctor; even if she isn’t veggie herself, she probably has very extensive experience with people who have never eaten meat. Ultimately, if she’s going to raise her kid veggie, she’ll raise her kid veggie. You can fight her or you can help her. </p>
<p>I know some people who have never eaten meat; they are smart, athletic, and well-adjusted. For some reason, though, “vegetarian” conjures up images of malnourishment, while “two working parents who bring home McDonald’s” somehow flies under the radar.</p>
<p>“when I was a carnivore”…no you were an omnivore.</p>
<p>I was a herbievore before I came to this country, then became omnivore for about 10 years and for the past 25 I am a veggiesaurus.</p>
<p>My wife has never eatern meat and she is healthier than me. Actually, now it is much easier to follow veggie diet. - even vegan diet. Every restaurant we go to have some veggie dish (a side benefit - as a non drinking veggie, the food bill in a very expensive restaurant is also very reasonable. They can’t charge $10 for a glass of milk or $30 for various kinds of grass/leaves). Your grand kid will be fine. Have you seen an elephant?</p>
<p>Ha Ha. that’s very good Simba. Thank you! Yes, like you folks say a little non judgemental informed concern is okay. A little.</p>
<p>
No, according to my family, I was a carnivore. I was actually nicknamed “The 'vore.” </p>
<p>LOL - love the elephant line, Simba! :)</p>
<p>Nonjudgmental, informed, constructive concern is a good recipe for anything! </p>
<p>“My friend is a veggie and said this pediatrician is very understanding; do you want his number?” shows that you’re working with her.</p>