Food and Diet

Being 10 doesn't really allow me to cook or prepare my own lunch. Thankfully my parents are here from zimbabwe so they are feeling the pressure of having a young girl in the house. I feel completely useless and tonight is going to be interesting as i might have to ask my neighbors to cook for me. Luckily my mum and dad took me too lunch so didn't have to bother my flat mate. However the waitress at the restaurant must have picked up how my parents were speaking to me and treating me as she offered me the kiddies burger and also a small juice. Felt extremely weird to be spoken to like i was either socially incapable and like a child.Being offered the child menu made me wonder about food and diets for the youth in South Africa.

 Government Medical field in Pediatrics state that on average a young girl needs 1740 calories a day. (Waitrose,15,2011,http://www.waitrose.com/content/waitrose/en/home/inspiration/health_and_nutrition/healthy_eating_for_children/7_to_10_year_olds.html, 3/15/11)


There is so much to say on the topic based around food and dieting. There is eating disorders in terms of anorexia and bulimia as well as obesity.  All in all they come down to appearance and perception, however I had no idea it started at such a young age.


Some Facts:

• 10% of children ages 10 years or younger have an eating disorder. 
• 91% of children aged 9-15 years begin dieting and exercising to loose weight.
• 80% of 10 year olds worry about being fat and are unhappy with their bodies. 
• In South Africa 20% of children between 6 and 13 are overweight or obese. 
• South Africa is second after America with worlds highest percent of obese children.

Looking at different articles and research done on the weight index for 10 year olds and younger there are so many internal and external catalysts that play part to the two extremes of our youths weight.  The unrealistic images portrayed in magazines and in TV programs is a huge factor. Children want to be just like Miley Cyrus or Hannah Montana. A child does not have the cognitive skills to understand persuasive advertising as well as the fact that percentage of the girls are airbrushed and photo-shopped to look perfect in order to sell either the product or magazine. So either you are obese and eating at the tuck-shop every day because mum has no time to make you lunch or you are worrying about your weight. Our lifestyles have changed and in our busy days we have some how become lazy with only a third of South African schools having sport available. Playing PC games online or watching High school Musical is much more entertaining now than when i was young and playing witches and wizards in the garden.

There is no where really in-between an average weight, the curves and bootie. Girls especially are still not happy, constantly comparing ourselves to our friends and other women in the room. I am just so shocked that young girls at 10 are already looking at their bodies and worrying not really about fashion at school but more about being fat compares.

References:
All  taken on the 3/15/11

ANA Health

http://anadeath.webs.com/statistics.htm

Clover, 2007, Nation Needs to move on diet and exersize.

http://www.clover.co.za/content/924/diet-and-exercise/

Food and Beverage Marketing to children in South Africa: mapping the terrain. (23,04,10)

Cassim SB, MCom, UHDE School of Management, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa Correspondence to: Prof Shahida Cassim, e-mail: cassim@ukzn.ac.za Keywords: food and beverage marketing; children; South Africa

http://www.ajol.info/index.php/sajcn/article/viewFile/63114/50983A New Research Study Lifts the Lid on Kids, Nutrition and Exercise

 Fat, Fatter, South Africa Monday 22, 2008:

 http://www.health24.com/dietnfood/Weight_Centre/15-51-2954-2955,15364.asp