If a person defines abuse as "anything hurtful, that cannot be avoided by the person being abused", by all means a child is vulnerable to being abused when overfed. Such abuse can be compounded if the food being given is of poor quality. Poor levels of nutrients within our food sources does contribute to the need/craving for larger quantities to try to compensate for lack of nutrition, but that is something not within the scope of this article.

According to Kenneth K. Adams M.D. in his report The Empowered Family, obese children are 4 times more likely to be obese adults. Other facts within this report point to availability of TVs in 6 year-old's bedrooms, hurtful eating habits/addictions promoted by the food industry, and exercise patterns that are continually declining. Anyone need only to follow this link to come face-to-face with the overfeeding being done by the prevalent fast food resources clamored for by youngsters. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4078903/

Since children are captives of their circumstances, especially during the early "habit-forming" years, there is a reasonable connection to be made between abuse and overfeeding. For most of us, we have the option of moving away from, disengaging from, or just saying "no" to things we perceive as harmful to us. The opposite is true of children. The adults in their world have the power to subject them to hurtful nutritional resources, and reinforce unhealthy practices, whether in their own kitchens or at commercial establishments. Few adults are taking the time to research how to keep children from falling victim to food addictions, cravings, or even food allergies and part of the problem is because so many children are turning into obese (thereby abusive)adults themselves!

Some believe food intake and obesity do not have a direct cause and effect relationship. This is a gross falsehood since simply overeating continually for any length of time (unlike Bulimia) will lead to repercussions in health status that will eventually lead to overweight situations. Breakdowns in health do not come first the overeating does! Once this cycle begins, children are locked into a situation that they cannot prevent or remedy until/unless they manage to grow out of or get away from the offending environment.

For health perspectives alone, overfeeding children should be considered to be abusive, even if done in ignorance. It is part of everyone's personal responsibility to become educated enough to feed any new child properly who is within their care, regardless of what eating habits the adults want to continue. If they don't AND TAKE ACTION TO NOT LET OVERFEEDING OCCUR, given the food, support and communication resources that have now become available in the last 20 years, they should consider themselves to be abusive parents, family members, eating establishment owners, school food program operators, marketers, are anyone else involved in the overeating habits of children.

It is the exceptional child who can withstand an "overfeeding" environment and protect themselves from the offending actions of others. That is why it is up to everyone today to see abuse for what it is and take actions (with care, love, and respect) to help others and themselves avoid contributing to the harmful situations, whenever they occur. If we all look at ourselves as potential contributors to the overeating of children, perhaps it is time to find better items for our holiday tables than candy, cake and cookies!

Learn more about this author, Kak McAlister.
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