{"id":5646,"date":"2021-05-19T22:03:38","date_gmt":"2021-05-19T22:03:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/s37407.p1377.sites.pressdns.com\/resources\/new-diet-app-kurbo-targets-kids\/"},"modified":"2021-05-19T22:03:38","modified_gmt":"2021-05-19T22:03:38","slug":"new-diet-app-kurbo-targets-kids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/new-diet-app-kurbo-targets-kids\/","title":{"rendered":"New diet app targets kids as young as 8 and experts think it\u2019s a bad idea"},"content":{"rendered":"

For most parents, children’s health is a major concern. They worry about making sure their kids have limits on screen time, spend plenty of time being active<\/a>, and develop healthy habits that include eating a balanced diet<\/a>. But how far is too far when it comes to teaching children how to be healthy? Last week, WW, the corporation that owns Weight Watchers, released a new weight loss app targeting children, and it has parents and health experts up in arms.<\/p>

The app is called Kurbo, and it is available to children as young as 8. Kurbo encourages kids to track their daily food intake using a system that assigns a red light, yellow light or green light to different foods, depending on the nutritional value. Vegetables and lean proteins are “green light” foods, while almonds and low-fat yogurt are “yellow,” meaning they should be eaten only in moderation. Foods like full-fat dairy products and desserts are considered “red” and should be limited, according to the app.<\/p>

The makers of the app claim it is not a dieting app and it is only intended to teach children healthy habits. Gary Foster, WW’s chief science officer, told The Atlantic<\/a> that the app is “common sense” and is necessary because families need a “simple and science-based system” that teaches kids how to make healthy choices. But many have pointed out disturbing facets of the app that could be harmful to kids. Dietitian Rebecca Scritchfield posted on her instagram account about the app’s troubling imagery, which includes a sweating raspberry on a hamster wheel chasing a dangling carrot.<\/p>

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Who gets to say what a “diet” is or is not? One of @ww consistent claims is that @kurbohealth app isn’t a diet and that this “healthy lifestyle” app is better than a cleanse. (Another strategy to detour from the harms they project by comparing to other scary and dangerous things.) Their strategy to align with “health” is to give their products a halo. Instead of hide the harm, we need to reveal it. QUESTION: is it a diet to you to see an app that targets 8 year olds for weight loss and shows these images? A raisin on a hamster wheel running to chase a carrot? Exercise to earn healthy food? QUESTION: Is it a diet to see the raisins sling shot away a cheeseburger ? because that’s a bad food? QUESTION: is it a diet to give a two ingredient “cookie” recipe then encourage “add ins” then warn they are red lights then encourage them for breakfast? That’s what the WW health coach does. (Mental gymnastics anyone?) Parent encouragement to diet predicts binge eating, laxative use, depression, and (not surprising) higher weight 15 years later. Kurbo is not just a diet it’s a dangerous one. PS: baked chicken sandwiches and burritos are “red light” foods. We cannot continue to allow #dietculture to hijack health! Read: PEDIATRICS Vol. 141 No. 4 April 01, 2018 e20172955 doi: 10.1542\/peds.2017-2955 #bodykindness #intuitiveeating #weightwatchers #antidiet #eatingdisorderrecovery #kidshealth #pediatrician #fitness #health<\/a><\/p>

A post shared by Rebecca Scritchfield, RDN, EPC<\/a> (@rebeccascritchfield) on