Thousands of children and adolescents are using anti-obesity drugs that in the UK are only licensed for use by adults. The number of young people receiving prescriptions for these drugs has increased 15-fold since 1999, but most stop using them before they could expect to see any benefit, according to a new study. (ScienceDaily 3/9/2009). This is the most alarming article I’ve read in a long time – and it’s no joke! It comes from a reputable source, the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, no less and goes on to confirm that around 1,300 young people in the UK are taking them every year at this stage

and goodness knows how many in the rest of the world. What are the parents thinking? Is it possible that we have allowed our children to degenerate to such an extent that only drugs can stop them from overeating?  This is tantamount to child abuse – are those parents simply too lazy to make the effort to feed their own children or have they allowed their kitchens to become living advertisements for the junk and fast food manufacturers? When we bring children into the world, we have to realise that they are the most precious of gifts we will ever get and that we are responsible for taking them safely and healthily into adulthood. There is no easy way to do this – it will take a lifetime of very, very hard work, of denying yourself everything and giving it all to your child and maybe, if there is something left over, you may have it. Children are not meant to eat junk or second grade food as much as they are not meant to be denied an education or a bed or love! More than anything, children need love and feeding them healthily as possible is part of that love – even if it means we miss out on new clothes, a new car, that holiday or even a trip to the dentist. Under no circumstances are parents supposed to teach their children that drugs are the answer to any problem. “Anti-obesity medications are expensive and not sticking to drug programmes wastes valuable resources” and unless the children eat a healthy, low fat diet in conjunction with the drugs, the side effects are rather nasty. What parent would inflict that on a child if there is a healthy alternative? In this case, there is no quick fix. Isn’t it ironic that we have over a billion starving people on earth – and as many grossly overweight. Then there’s the matter of health – be aware that healthy isn’t always healthy and non fattening not always non fattening. Leave ready meals on the shelves – often they contain more salt than ordinary food and things like fat free desserts and yoghurts make up for the lack of fat by including more sugar.

• Read all labels with care and compare salt, fat and sugar intakes with one another – it makes for fascinating reading because labelling legislation in most countries (with the exception of Germany) leaves much to be desired. The EU has now regulated that health claims may only be authorised if they are clearly understood by the average consumers but the rest of the world is yet to follow suit. “From July 2009, food producers must be able to prove to the European Food Safety Authority that any claims can be backed up by evidence. Products that are high in calcium, for instance, can legitimately claim that calcium is good for bones. Oats have been shown to help reduce cholesterol as part of a low-fat diet and this claim could be made on a product. There is nothing in the legislation specifically covering claims for omega-3” – but this will not be the case everywhere because the corporations still rule.
• It’s also a good idea to find out exactly what the fat percentages are on low fat or reduced fat products and what fats are used instead of the usual dairy fats. All too often ingredients like palm oil are used as fat replacement, chemicals like sodium alginate, polyglycerol polyricinoleate and potassium sorbate as flavourings and stabilisers and aspartame instead of sugar. Health bars are fattening, slimmers food products extremely deficient in nutrients and best left on the rack, so why not skip all that and take a walk to the fresh foods division.  Stock up with fresh organic vegetables and meat and create a feast for your children – if you’ve been feeding them junk, they may object at first but persevere. One day they will thank you for it – even if only when they have children themselves. Here’s an easy recipe that your children will love – it’s not extreme diet food because I don’t believe that’s the answer but it will, without doubt steer them away from any disgusting ready meals. The recipe should be enough for two adults and can, naturally be increased.

EASY HONEY GLAZED CHICKEN BREAST

Ingredients

• 2 large organic chicken breasts, skinned and sliced into strips
• 140 g fat free goats’ cheese (if you can’t find that, use ordinary goat’s cheese)
• 1 avocado, sliced into strips (optional)
• 110 g toasted pine nuts
• 1 large lemon, zest only
• 1 tsp cardamom seeds (you remove the seeds from the green pods), crushed
• 2 tbsp runny honey
• 2 tsp Dijon mustard
• 150 g salad leaves or simply rocket leaves on their own
• Balsamic vinegar
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Sea salt and freshly ground pepper

Method

• Combine the honey, the lemon zest, the cardamom, salt, pepper and the mustard and once combined, add the chicken strips, coat everything well and allow to rest for 10 minutes.
• Put the chicken strips into a pre-heated char-grill pan and cook for a few minutes on each side until seared – it doesn’t take long to cook these strips.
• Make a dressing from the balsamic vinegar, the olive oil, the salt and the pepper and dress the rocket leaves with it.
• Serve with the rocket leaves in the centre of the plate, the chicken pieces on top, topped with the crumbled goat’s milk cheese and sprinkled with the pine nuts – finally add the avocado**.
• If your children are particularly picky you could drizzle some additional honey on the side – serve with home-baked whole wheat bread.
• *Goat’s milk cheese is easier to digest than cows milk and is also  lower in calories, cholesterol, and fat. It’s rich in calcium, protein, vitamin A, phosphorus, vitamin K, thiamin, and niacin and it contains beta-caseins as it’s dominant proteins (similar to mother’s milk).
• **Avocado is fattening but very healthy – it may be a good idea to add something like this for children so that they don’t get too hungry.