The Healthland Podcast: Superobese Kids, Parents on Facebook and Betty Ford’s Mixed Legacy

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This week on the podcast, Healthland editor Sora Song asks whether child obesity is child abuse. TIME editor-at-large Belinda Luscombe reports that adults are less savvy on Facebook than teens. And TIME senior writer John Cloud makes a case against 12-step addiction treatment, popularized by Betty Ford. Click the play button below to listen.

Here are links for the topics on today’s podcast:

Sora (@sora_song) examined the controversy over whether state authorities can or should be able to take custody of extremely obese children; read Bonnie Rochman’s excellent Healthland story on the issue here.

Belinda (@youseless) talked about how parents can be just as guilty as kids when it comes to oversharing on social-media sites.

And John (@JohnAshleyCloud) both honored Betty Ford for her achievements (read Nancy Gibbs’ stirring obituary) and criticized the 12-step model that Ford helped make famous. He also recommended an evidence-based approach to treating addiction.

Here are links for today’s Field Notes:

Sora nearly made us sick with news about foot odor (Healthland contributor Katy Steinmetz offers details here).

Belinda talked about why stay-at-home dads are more likely to divorce.

And John mentioned that your dentist might recommend Xanax, generically known as alprazolam, rather than laughing gas during your next brutal cleaning.

You can follow this discussion on our Facebook page at TIMEHealthland. And find us on Twitter @TIMEHealthland.

See you next week.