慧儷輕體發(fā)布備受爭議的兒童減肥應用

慧儷輕體發(fā)布備受爭議的兒童減肥應用

Weight Watchers came under fire this month after releasing a weight loss app for children and young teens that critics say encourages eating disorders.

慧儷輕體(Weight Watchers)本月發(fā)布了一款專為兒童和青少年設計的減肥應用程序，批評人士稱，該應用程序會導致飲食失調(diào)。

WW, formerly known as Weight Watchers, released the Kurbo App on Aug. 13 and described the program as “a scientifically-proven behavior change program designed to help kids and teens ages 8-17 reach a healthier weight,” according to a press release.

WW公司的前身是慧儷輕體(Weight Watchers)，該公司于8月13日發(fā)布了這款名為“Kurbo”的應用程序，并將其描述為“一款經(jīng)過科學驗證的行為改變程序，旨在幫助8至17歲的兒童和青少年達到更健康的體重。”

The wellness organization said that it built the app based on Stanford University’s Pediatric Weight Control Program that helps youngsters to “make lifestyle changes while receiving guidance around sustainable healthy eating, physical activity and mindfulness habits.”

這家健康組織表示，他們基于斯坦福大學(Stanford University)的兒童體重控制項目開發(fā)了這款應用，該項目幫助青少年“改變生活方式，同時接受有關可持續(xù)健康飲食、身體活動和正念習慣的指導”。

However, parents are firing back saying that the app encourages young people to develop eating disorders early on.

然而，家長們反駁說，這個應用程序鼓勵年輕人早日出現(xiàn)飲食失調(diào)。

A petition to pull the app was created on Change.org and has received more than 82,000 signatures.

Change.org網(wǎng)站上創(chuàng)建了一份請愿書，要求撤掉這款應用程序，目前已收到超過8.2萬個簽名。

“At least 30 million people of all ages and genders suffer from an eating disorder in the U.S.,” the petition read. “Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness, every 62 minutes at least one person dies as a direct result from an eating disorder. This app will literally kill people.”

請愿書上寫道：“美國至少有3000萬不同年齡和性別的人患有飲食失調(diào)。飲食失調(diào)是所有精神疾病中死亡率最高的，每62分鐘至少有一人死于飲食失調(diào)。這個應用程序真的會殺人。”

The petition argued that the app promotes an environment that facilities the development of eating disorders citing “adolescence [as] a critical period of development and a window of vulnerability.”

請愿書認為，該應用程序促進了一個環(huán)境，以“青春期是發(fā)育的關鍵時期，也是脆弱的窗口”為借口，進一步推動飲食失調(diào)的發(fā)展。

The petition’s organizers call WW’s decision to launch the app “dangerous, irresponsible and immoral.”

請愿書的組織者稱WW發(fā)布該應用程序的決定是“危險、不負責任和不道德”。

WW did not immediately respond to Fox News’ request for comment.

WW沒有立即回復福克斯新聞的置評請求。

In a press release about the app, Gary Foster, chief scientific officer at WW, said the app helps target “the prevalent public health problem of childhood obesity.”

WW的首席科學官加里福斯特(GaryFoster)在一份關于該應用程序的新聞稿中說，該應用有助于解決“兒童肥胖這一普遍的公共健康問題”。

“Alongside a distinguished group of leaders in pediatric health and nutrition, we’ve carefully developed this platform to be holistic, rewarding and inspirational so kids, teens and families get the tools and guidance they need to manage their environment and build and sustain healthy habits,” he said.

他說:“我們與一群杰出的兒科健康和營養(yǎng)領域的領導人一道，精心開發(fā)了這個平臺，使其具有全身性、有益性和啟發(fā)性，使兒童、青少年和家庭獲得管理環(huán)境、建立和保持健康習慣所需的工具和指導。”