Gordon Ramsay's No Fatties Edict
Oct. 27 2008, Published 7:07 a.m. ET
DADDY DEAREST Ramsay
Foul-mouthed UK chef Gordon Ramsay of reality show Hell's Kitchen fame unleashes his tyrannical teaching methods on parents of fat kids in the latest Men's Health, saying "If kids become obese and out of control, then seriously fine the parents and threaten them with a court appearance, because they often don't realize what they are doing."
He should know. His eight-year-old daughter, he reveals oh-so sensitively, has been made fun of in school for her weight.
Ramsay's extreme stance on parents (like himself) is just one nugget in a stew of contradictory, ill-considered, and downright dangerous advice that seems odd in a feel-good, self-actualized, six-pack abs lifestyle mag.
The chef goes on to suggest "shock tactics" to frighten children out of overeating. "Supersize Me scared the hell out of my children. You have to scare them like that to make them understand it's not good for you," he says. Never mind that doctors say that will backfire. "If parents take an overly controlling attitude toward losing weight, children will find themselves pushed into stealth tactics: sneak eating, overly large portions, or eating outside the home," says Dr. Dana Rufey, a psychologist at the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh Weight Management and Wellness Center.
