12 Step Eating Addiction Program for Children?

Barbara was overweight all of her life. She weighed over nine pounds when she was delivered. Both of her parents were obese as well as her two brothers. People in the neighborhood liked to say that it "ran in the family."

Barb was a fat child who grew into a fat adult. She had a couple of romantic relationships when she was younger but she seemed to be attracted to the type of man who would date her for a while and then clean out her bank account.

Barb got a job in the dietary department of a local hospital. She worked there for twenty-three years. While she was there she tried diet after diet but just couldn't lose the weight. Finally the arthritis got so bad in her knees that she could no longer walk. She had to go on disability and move into a special apartment. At the age of 53 she passed away from cardiac complications.

Fat children grow into fat adults and most of the time the outcome isn't good. And we now have the fattest children on the planet. The adults are right there with them. I recently went into a Wal-Mart to buy some new sweatpants. I wear a small size. There were all kinds of double and triple extra large sizes on the shelves, but not even one that was small. Draw you own conclusions from that.

Obesity exposes you to a whole host of health problems. You increase your chance of getting diabetes, cardiac problems, breathing problems, and like Barb, arthritis. Children and teens are developing Type 2 or "adult diabetes" at a higher and higher rate. This was unheard of twenty years ago. It is estimated that by the year 2030, 50% of all the people in the United States will have it.

In a way, overeating is an addition, just like alcoholism and drug abuse. Eating, like sex, is one of our basic pleasures, but it can be overdone. Now there is a 12 step program to treat overeating in children. According to the Healthy Planet Magazine:

"Indeed, childhood obesity has become prevalent among both young children and adolescents. Children may be exposed to some of the same tendencies to overeat that affect us as adults, resulting in similar unhealthy eating patterns."

The Transitions Lifestyle System 12-week program:
Is designed to be used by children who are 10-years-old to 17-years-old. It uses the same 12 step approach as other 12 step systems. The children set goals for themselves, You get a personalized coach or "sponsor" as well as working on self-confidence and long term changes in lifestyle.

Transfigure Total Health is located at 7800 Clayton Rd. St. Louis, MO 63105. Their number is 314-304-3380. As far as I know they are currently the only such program in the St. Louis area, but given their success, I am sure that there will be more such groups in the future.

Source: http://www.thehealthyplanet.com/mar2011_childhood.htm