A Halloween "Fat Note?"

Came across this lil’ nugget today. With the Halloween spirit in the air, accompanied by a plethora of candy, one woman had taken it upon herself to pass out these gem notes to the overweight children.

This woman plans to give notes to children who appear "moderately obese" in hopes that the message will shame their parents into rationing their supply of Halloween candy. And we’re off and running with disordered food, weight and body image issues. Fantastic. Seriously, children are already having a tough enough time with these issues. Check out these stats on disordered eating: • 10% report onset at 10 years or younger • 33% report onset between ages of 11-15 Is that the direction we want to go with our children, just to keep them from being “fat?” After all, we never know what is triggering someone. Scripture, again, gives a warning about having insensitivity toward others who may be struggling with Achilles heels of any kind: “But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak.” 1 Corinthians 8:9 “Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.” Romans 14:13 And, by making candy forbidden, we subscribe undue added power and temptation to it. When we’re deprived, what do we do? Obsess about the forbidden deprivation object all the more. God gives us a reality check about that: “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.” 1 Corinthians 10:23 “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” 1 Corinthians 6:12 It’s tricky, at best, for most of. We already have a lot of warped perceptions, as is. And a Halloween “fat note” won’t be the quick and forever “fix.” It’s about eliminating the power/fear/guilt/shame of any food. It’s about refusing to poke and point at a child’s body, demanding perfection or a more “aesthetically pleasing” size or shape. It’s about letting children be children and, if, indeed, there is a real health problem, getting professional and loving support and treatment for that issue. I don’t know what this woman’s heart motives truly are. I just get extremely uneasy whenever we try, with our own ideas, to steer ANY child in the diet direction. Without knowing it, we’re setting in motion, perhaps, lifelong struggles for these very children. And that never makes for a “happy Halloween.” Copyright © 2013 by Sheryle Cruse