Michelle Obama has just started a campaign against childhood obesity with the admission that she put her girls Malia and Sasha on a diet because they were getting fat. Clearly, childhood obesity must be solved urgently. But is it a good idea for mothers to put their daughters on diets? Studies show that the more children diet, the more likely they are to become obese as adults. Research also shows that girls are highly influenced by their mothers when it comes to eating habits and body image. This was the case for Carly, 40, who blames her mother for her lifelong struggle with weight. "My mother was on a diet the whole time I was growing up," she says. "And she put me on my first diet when I was 10. I lost puppy fat, gained her approval and never ate normally again." America's First Lady clearly has a vital healthy eating message to convey. But could this be damaging for Malia and Sasha? Could they develop eating disorders because of it? "It's wrong just to blame mothers for their daughters' eating disorders," says Susan Ringwood, chief executive of the eating disorders charity. "There is a genetic component to eating disorders." However, "We do know that parents have a very strong influence over a child's eating. It's important to realize that you are your daughter's role model. Girls idolize their mothers." says Ringwood. "No food should ever be 'good 'or' bad'," Ringwood says. Instead, "You have to make it clear that food is a sociable, healthy and fun part of life, not something to be feared." "Talk to her about body image," Ringwood says. "Talk about how curves are an important and exciting part of being a woman. Show her that anorexic ) fashion models are not sexy, but ill. The pressure on girls today is immense," she says. Never forget that you are the authoritative voice, too. QUESTIONS:

Q1:
1. What are the names of Michelle Obama's children?
2. What are Michelle Obama's girls' names?
3. 
Q2:
1. Were Michelle Obama's girls getting fat?
2. Did the children of Michelle Obama start to get fat?
3. 
Q3:
1. What have studies shown regarding the frequency of children's diets?
2. What have studies shown regarding children who diet often?
3. 
Q4:
1. What is Susan Ringwood known for?
2. What does Susan Ringwood do for a living?
3. 
Q5:
1. Have girls been shown to be influenced by their mothers?
2. Do mothers influence their girls' habits?
3. 
Q6:
1. Do eating disorders have some form of genetic component to them?
2. Can eating disorders be inherited from the parents?
3. 
Q7:
1. Should food by labelled as "good or bad"?
2. Is it a good idea to call food " good or bad"?
3. 
Q8:
1. Is there a good reason for fearing food?
2. Is it a good idea to fear food?
3. 
Q9:
1. Is there a lot of pressure being placed on girls today?
2. Do girls in this era have a lot of pressure placed on them?
3. 
Q10:
1. What is Carly's age?
2. How many years old is Carly?
3. 
Q11:
1. Who does Carly blame for her lifelong struggle with weight?
2. Carly has blamed her lifelong stuggle with weight on which person?
3. 
Q12:
1. Which person clearly has an important message regarding weight?
2. Which person has a vital message to convey regarding healthy eating?
3. 
Q13:
1. How old was Carly when she went on a diet for the first time?
2. At what age did Carly decide to first go on a diet?
3. 
Q14:
1. What weight did Carly lose when she went on a diet for the first time?
2. What weight was lost by Carly subsequent to her first diet?
3. 
Q15:
1. Is blaming mother for weight issues a bad idea?
2. Is it a bad idea to blame mothers for difficulties in losing weight?
3. 
