it is true that as a nation we in the US are known overeaters and become a nation of obsesity. I don't know about other countries- but as some of you know I work for Wal-Mart I am a supervisor, well the other day I got a email from home office that bothers me.

Wal-mart will start carrying plus sizes in girls clothing. now it bothers me because instead of people addressing the issue that we are so OBESE that now our children must have special large clothing we are just going to make it ok for them to be large by creating a line of plus size clothing for them.

I don't know why this announcement stuck me the wrong way, it just seems that we as a nation are dealing with our obseity the wrong way. Girls sizes already go up to a 16, now these sizes will be adjusted for the girls who are larger than that, it is just a shame that we are now accepting this as a normal thing..

Plus size clothes at Wal-Mart!?!?! I would never have believed it!!


Well, what is the first thing one sees when entering a Wal-Mart? A snack bar and a huge display of nice buttery bagged popcorn loaded with salt!!

OK, the second thing. The first thing is either the greeter handing out smiley stickers or some woman in stretch pants spanking her kid!!!

By all means, lets have the plus size girls squeezing into clothes that are too small for them. That would be pretty good for their self esteem.

I need to go get something to eat now!!!!!

Obesity definitely is a problem today, however not accomodating fat people in Wal-mart's clothing line would only encourage fat shoppers to go elsewhere.

----------------------

By the way your use of the word "obese" reminds me of an article that I recently read by George Carlin. Here's a quote...

"You probably noticed, elsewhere I used the word fat. I used that word because that's what fat people are. They're fat. They're not large; they're not stout, chunky, hefty, or plump. And they're not big-boned. Dinosaurs are big-boned. These people are not necessarily obese, either. Obese is a medical term. And they're not overweight. Overweight implies there is some correct weight. There is no correct weight. Heavy is also a misleading term. An aircraft carrier is heavy; it's not fat. Only people are fat, and that's what fat people are. They're fat. I offer no apology for this. It is not intended as criticism or insult. It is simply descriptive language. I don't like euphemisms. Euphemisms are a form of lying. Fat people are not gravitationally disadvantaged. They're fat. I prefer seeing things the way they are, not the way some people wish they were."

Taken from George Carlin's views of Politically Correct Language:
http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Vines/1521/carlin_pclanguage1.html

Woot! George Carlin!

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Yankees15:

By all means, lets have the plus size girls squeezing into clothes that are too small for them. That would be pretty good for their self esteem.

I need to go get something to eat now!!!!![/QUOTE]

you missed the point- why is it that these girls parents allowed their child to eat whatevet whenever so that they became so large they can not fit in the array of sizes already available. There have always been children who have been larger than that of the "average" why is it that now we have so many children tipping the scales that we need to UP the clothing sizes?

How healthy can they be to have a 10 year old girl weighing more than 150lbs? A 10 year old girl who is so large that she already requires a bra larger than that most adult women do? I am sure her self esteem is so great already being the largest girl in class who can't fit in the average desk that is supplied to the elementary/middle school levels. Maybe the schools need to UP the desk sizes too?

The point I was trying to make is that we all overeat and now it has trickled down to the children. And mostly because of the eating habits that their parents have shown them. Snacking, sweets and unbalanced diets along with all the electronic crapola they are bought in order to keep them quiet and entertained instead of outside playing and excersizing.

It just struck me wrong that we can overlook the problem and just carry on as if this "plus size adolesence" is going to be accepted as a normal thing.

It's probably because thier parents are (1) fat and (2)lazy as well. They're too lazy to cook healthy food for thier kids, encourage them to exercise and loose wieght, and are fat because they won't cook healthy food (live off McDonald's), and won't exercise or try to lose weight, And thier kids fallow by example. It's the never-ending cycle of fat! Aghhhh!

But, honestly, I don't get the whole obesity problem. So there are lots of fat kids. What's your point? Why the problem? So few kids will die of heart attacks (which they can at any time stop (with of ocurse hard work). It's called personal responsibility. Shouldn't we worry about something more serious like AIDS?

And Mk, even though the whole not trying to be politically correct thing makes sense, it's a sort of selfish and inconsiderate way of thinking of things. There is a difference between saying what's on your mind and saying rude things to get a high (which is the way I think he or anyone would say that).

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Shawn:


just seems that we as a nation are dealing with our obseity the wrong way. [/QUOTE]

the ceo at our hospital has weight watchers come to the campus and offer classes.
the ceo strongly encourages us to attend.

I am Fat. I am not happy being fat. I am also clinically "obese". If I didn't have clothing to buy at Walmart, I'd go elsewhere.

I have tried losing weight, I have spent several thousands of dollars trying to do so. I am also clinically depressed, have 2 disabled children, a husband in college.

I don't enjoy my obesity, but I realize my life isn't only about being fat.

I agree that parents SHOULD monitor their diets and their children's diets, restrict sedentary activities and encourage exercise. That is in the ideal world. Unfortunately, life isn't ideal.

Also, it is in Walmarts best interest to keep people fat. Have you seen the junk food aisles? At ours, there are probably 6 isles of junk-food, as well as a McDonald's restaurant right at the entrance. Also, there are another 2 aisles dedicated to dietary aids and supplements.. which will most likely fail their "objective".

So, why NOT have clothing that will fit? Perhaps HAVING to BUY such large clothing will be a motivator..who knows.

Wal-Mart and the stockholders are certainly looking at the bottom line. And the bottom line is getting into the plus sizes.

After all, 'Fat bottom girls make the rockin' world go round'. One day soon, they may start putting a McDonalds in every new Super Wal-Mart.

NCcichlid - having a South American day.

Shawn, I agree and disagree with you in many ways. I do see that America is becoming a largely obese nation, but the fault is not to blame in the vendors and restraunts of this country. The fault is to blame with ourselves. It is completely our choice. While a lot of us adults Americans (including myself) are overweight, the children should not suffer from our indulgences. I blame the obesity of children in this country completely on the parents. There is no reason a 2 year old should weigh 150 pounds. (Did anybody else see that? {Dr. Phil}) That sickens me. When I was a kid, we went outside, played with the neighbor kids, ran around the block etc. I never see kids playing outside anymore. They're stuck in front of the t.v. and the computer, snacking on chips and candy. That is sad.

Yelena, I am concerned about your lack of concern for the problem in our nation. You ask the point and the problem. It is more than just heart attacks that are troubling the nation's youth. Did you know that there are numerous cases of Type II diabetes showing up in the youth of this nation? Type II diabetes does not normally occur until a person is well into their 30's, 40, and 50's. There is no excuse for these children to have such serious health problems. And how can you say with such disconcern that a few kids will die of heart attacks? Children should not have heart attacks. Ever.

It is sad that Walmart has to carry a plus sized line for children, but I do not in anyway blame them. They are just serving the community what it needs. The problem begins in the home. And in this digital age, it will only get worse before it gets better.

THIS IS NOT ABOUT WAL-MART!!! that is just where i got the dad-burn information that the clothing companies are going to start making plus size clothing for children. Why is it that is the main point everyone seems to be focusing on.


YES there are FAT adults and yes ther have always been some overweight children. But no one here seems to be getting the point that we are so fat as adults and don't seem to want to help ourselves that now we can pass on those lovely feelings we have about being fat to our plus sized kids. THAT NOW we have made them so fat they need a plus size just like MOM or DAD.

I really thought that bringing this here would give some enlightenment and maybe encourage others that as a whole we should all do something to change our eating habits so that our future generations don't have to suffer from the facts we already know about being overweight, but all you could do was focus on the fact that 'they gotta buy clothes somewhere-why not wal-mart'.


that is why it said "what a shame'. Shame on us for being lazy, unhealthy parents that now SO MANT of our children have become obses they need a additional sizes to the already 4-16 in girls! Do you people think that girls sizes are all in skinny? NO they already have clothes big enough that I could wear (I wear a 12 in womens).
gogenni- everything you said in your post is in agreement with my feelings- but don't understand what it is you don't agree with.

Let me clarify- I am not saying they don't deserve the clothes, I am not ridiculing wal-mart for cashing in on it, I am not saying there is not a need for it. I FEEL it is a shame that our children have become so fat they REQUIRE IT!

i would like to add that I have a LOT of friends (true friends) who are very big and I wouldn't trade them for the world. They are the most caring, loyal, honest and have the best personalities of thinner friends. And I know the anquish they feel because they are unhappy with their bodies. I feel their heartache when they describe the problems it brings with it, I support their decisions and try to be as positive as possible.
Some became fat in adulthood, some have always had problems with their weight since childhood, I don't ridicule them for "not trying" or not attempting to do something about it. YEt at the same time I am concerned for their over-all health.

I don't consider myself "skinny" nor am I obsese, but I am unhappy with the pregnancy weight I have retained all these years and can only teach my children to eat healthy by not purchasing mass quanities of junk food. I have tried to control my eating by following the quote "EAT to live, not live to eat". I am the smallest in my family- they are all overweight, some-borderline obese, and never happy with the way they look. I keep in consideration the medical history in my family- diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease- and want to do everything possible to prevent these from happening to me.

Yesterday I watched a woman force her slightly overweight daughter (around 8-10) to eat more pizza at a buffet. The son at the table was, in my opinion, skinny and his father wasn't pushing him to eat more- why is that? When I was a cashier I noticed the food purchases of the different size customers, the thinner customers have very few chips, snacks while the larger ones had more of those along with large quanities of frozen meals.

There is just a obvious growing problem of overeating when our children (ages 6-12), not young adults (teenagers) are obese. NExt hing you know they will start making maternity clothes for the "Juniors" section at depatrment stores so that our teenage pregnant mothers can also stay in style.

I didn't mean to upset any one who is overweight, fat or obese. I just thought it was a shame that our society has come to this because we as parents have failed our children by teaching them poor eating habits.

Shawn, I'm totally understanding what you are saying. It's very sad to watch our children grow and grow into obese kids. I remember when I was a lot younger and my grandma would take me to McDonalds, we would order a cheeseburger, fries and something to drink, and we'd be full! Now, kids are ordering big macs, supersized and the meals just keep getting bigger!
Having said that, I, for one am very guilty about letting my daughter eat what she wants. I'm not a very good cook (excuse, I know ) but I do try and make sure she does get nutritian as well. Fortunatly, she doesn't have a weight problem, but there are always other risk factors in not eating well. For starters, teaching kids to eat right while they are children will help them in adulthood. It doesn't matter when you are an adult, how much you weigh, you are still at risk of having heart attacks and other problems for not eating the right foods. It's like the commercials where the people 'look' perfect, but they have extremely high cholestrol (sp?).
My daughter has a few friends that are over weight, their excuse? Their parents are never around and when they are, they give them what they want, in order to compensate for their lack of parenting. It's very sad to go shopping with them at a mall and while some of the girls are having fun and trying on clothes, the other girls are standing around, looking very unhappy, I might add, because there are nothing in those 'popular' stores that fit them.
You are right Shawn, something needs to be done, but what? Where do we begin and how do we start?