(PRWEB) November 04, 2013
Media reports of fat-shaming activities by adults on Halloween are incredibly disappointing and may be damaging according to Dr. Michael Omidi and Julian Omidi, cofounders of the Children’s Obesity Fund. The Huffington Post article published on October 30th, 2013 (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/30/fat-letters-halloween_n_4177341.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular) includes a story about a North Dakota woman who decided to combat the country’s growing population of over-weight young people by not handing out candy on Halloween, but instead plans to give letters to children condemning their parents for unhealthy eating habits.
“While my brother and I are certainly concerned about America’s growing obesity epidemic, shaming tactics of this kind are truly abhorrent. This is not the kind of attention that motivates behavior change,” according to Dr. Michael Omidi, cofounder of Children’s Obesity Fund. “What is most bothersome is the negative judgment this woman is dispensing since she will only give the letter to children she considers to be ‘moderately obese’. These personal assessments, based simply on the child’s appearance, do not include possibility of mitigating health factors that may be involved. No one needs this kind of opinionated cruelty, least of all innocent children out to have fun during a national celebration.”
Recently published studies have confirmed that fat-shaming words and activities can have an adverse effect on both children and adults. In fact, it actually increases the risk of obesity.
Cofounded by the Omidi brothers, the Children’s Obesity Fund (http://www.childrensobesityfund.org) hopes to help reverse the trend of rising obesity rates in America. The goal of the non-profit charity is to help people fully understand the obesity issue and its dire impacts on individuals and society as a whole -- and to use that knowledge to encourage children to grow up strong and healthy. Children’s Obesity Fund partners with other organizations to educate and support parents, educators and others so that we can all work together to raise healthy, active, social, and happy children. While the organization does not accept donations, it does encourage direct contributions of money and talents to the associations featured on our website. Children’s Obesity Fund is on Facebook as well as Google+, Twitter, and Pinterest.