Clean Plate Syndrome

            
             When my mother was a child she had to finish her plate before she could leave the dinner.
             table, and as an adult she has had to constantly battle her weight. I was never asked to clean my.
             plate as a child because my mother believes she struggles with her size because she learned to.
             over eat while growing up. There are very few benefits from forcing children to clean their plates.
             and even more unfavorable consequences resulting from the habit of overeating at an early age. .
             Many mothers believe by making their children clean their plate they will receive .
             nutrients and vitamins that are needed to grow healthy and strong. Some parents also teach.
             children that it is wasteful not to all the food served. Parents force their children to finish their.
             food for many reasons, but According to Connie Diekman, " It's leading to an obesity epidemic.
             in America and is known as Clean Plate Syndrome." When parents insist that children clean.
             their plates the child learns to eat just because there is food availiable and not because of hunger. .
             Children who are taught to eat in this manner never learn to recognize when they are full, and.
             the result could becoming overweight. The University of Illinois recently conducted a study on.
             77 preschoolers and found children that were forced fed ate more than needed. A child should.
             always be allowed to choose when he or she is full. .
             Children that develop clean plate syndrome have higher risks of developing diseases than.
             a child who has normal eating habits. An example of one of these diseases is Diabetes type II,.
             which was once known as an adult disease, but is now found in a overwhelming amount of.
             children. Diabetes type II develops when body fat increases and the insulin in the body no longer.
             functions correctly. Connie Diekman states, "We are beginning to see this type of diabetes, as.
             well as the early development of heart disease and increased levels, in children as young as.