Nutrition Frenzy

The big guy has really scored some major points in the humanity department with his new reality show, “Shaq’s Big Challenge.”

The program, which airs Tuesday at 9pm ET/8CT on ABC, showcases the harsh realities that accompany America ’s epidemic of childhood obesity.

This show resonates for one simple reason: It’s one thing to hear statistics about the rise in childhood diabetes, the increased rate of suicide among obese children, and the low-self esteem and taunting that fat kids face, it is quite another to fall in love with a cast of obese kids and become emotionally involved in their struggles.

Shaq’s Big Challenge features an all-star line-up of doctors, fitness experts and nutritionists, hand-picked to help 6 obese Florida middle-schoolers lose weight, gain nutritional knowledge and get control over their lives. In addition to dealing directly with the kids, Shaq documents his struggle to get a mere 20 minutes of physical activity into a Broward County middle school which has no physical education due to budget cuts.

Absolutely Shocking

I was appalled to learn that cut-backs have forced MANY schools to completely abolish physical education programs. Hopefully, Shaq’s pilot program will meet with success in Broward County and eventually be incorporated into curriculums across the country.

The Hurdles

While all the kids express a desire to be thinner, the show makes no bones about showing the true battle that must be waged in order to shed the weight. It’s clear that lifestyle changes don’t come easy, even for children.

Examples: The kids cheat on their diets - one boy tells viewers he eats candy while walking on the treadmill, another boy binges on pizza (which he dips bite by bite in a tub of garlic butter) and yet another professes a desire for ice cream that verges on a mantra.

The Parents

This program proves how incredibly important it is for parents to get educated about basic nutrition. For example, the kid who dips greasy pizza slices in butter? Well, mom was sitting by his side explaining that this behavior was a-ok, since it was his “cheat day”.

A father watches his obese son mow through a bag of Halloween candy. His thinking? He had done his as much as he could by removing some of the candy so that his son couldn’t eat quite so much. Clearly, these folks aren’t bad parents. It’s obvious they love their kids. The problem is they don’t have the skills to deal with the issues their kids face.

Will They Lose It?

I have no idea. While the kids want to lose weight, they struggle mightily with what it takes to do it - intense exercise and eating right. Working in their favor are the talented professionals Shaq has assembled and some primo bribes involving a limo and Miami Heat box seats. At odds with their goal is the fact that losing weight is tough, even when Shaquille O’Neal is on your team.

Good Luck Kiddos!

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