parents blamed for childhood obesity

[Amby 490]

Children tend to eat what their parents eat, finds a new study that suggests a parental contribution to the growing obesity problem among young children and teenagers.

Researchers found adolescents are more likely to eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day if their parents do. Contrarily, teens whose parents eat fast food or drink soda are more likely to do the same.

Every day, more than 2 million California adolescents (62 percent) drink soda and 1.4 million (43 percent) eat fast food, but only 38 percent eat five or more servings of fruits and vegetables, say the researchers at UCLA Center for Health Policy Research.

The cause of the deficit of healthy foods in teen diets has been attributed in part to the high concentration of fast food restaurants in certain cities and neighborhoods and other environmental factors.

The new research is a reminder, however, that "good dietary habits start at home," said research scientist Susan H. Babey, a co-author of the policy brief. "If parents are eating poorly, chances are their kids are too."

Nearly one-third (30 percent) of California's teenagers are overweight or obese. Poor dietary habits, along with environmental and other factors, are strongly linked to obesity.

The policy brief, which was funded by a grant from the California Endowment, drew upon the responses of thousands of California teenagers queried by the center-administered California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), the nation's largest state health survey. Among the brief's findings:

• Teens whose parents drink soda every day are nearly 40 percent more likely to drink soda every day themselves than teens whose parents do not drink soda.
• Teens whose parents eat five servings of fruits and vegetables daily are 16 percent more likely to do the same than teens whose parents do not eat five servings a day.
• Nearly half of adolescents (48 percent) whose parents drink soda every day eat fast food at least once a day, while only 39 percent of teens whose parents do not drink soda eat fast food at least once daily.
• 45 percent of teens whose parents do not eat five servings of fruits and vegetables daily eat fast food at least once a day, while only 39 percent of teens whose parents eat five servings a day eat fast food at least once daily.

"The research shows us that one of the keys to solving the teen obesity crisis starts with parents, but we must also improve the abysmal food environments in many low-income communities," said Robert K. Ross, president and chief executive officer of the California Endowment. "While parents are the primary role models for their children and their behavior can positively — or negatively — influence their children's health, it is also essential that local officials representing low-income communities work to expand access to fruits, vegetables and other healthful foods."

http://www.livescience.com/health/090209-o...ty-parents.html

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Hard to argue with that.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Children tend to eat what their parents eat, finds a new study that suggests a parental contribution to the growing obesity problem among young children and teenagers.

Ok I promise to eat better if my wife and I have kids.

[lucyrich 20]

They needed a study for that?

Next they'll tell us that kids from rich homes are more likely to grow up rich, while kids from poverty-stricken homes are likely to have less income when they become adults.

Maybe kids who grow up in Catholic homes are more likely to become Catholic, while kids who grow up in atheist homes are less likely to join a mainstream religion.

Kids whose parents did time in prison are more likely to be involved in the criminal justice system as adults.

Sure there are individual exceptions, but the general rule is that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

[Amby 490]

Children tend to eat what their parents eat, finds a new study that suggests a parental contribution to the growing obesity problem among young children and teenagers.

Ok I promise to eat better if my wife and I have kids.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Which means I better load up on the artery clogging goodness before.

[Waldo 0]

I've got a diet that works. It's called the FOOD PYRAMID and it's worked since I was a kid in school. 6'2" 170lbs

[Amby 490]

I've got a diet that works. It's called the FOOD PYRAMID and it's worked since I was a kid in school. 6'2" 170lbs

wow 170 sounds super skinny for 6'2"

[Jasman0717 9]

We need to learn about serving sizes, everything this day and age, at least in America, is super sized.

I've got a diet that works. It's called the FOOD PYRAMID and it's worked since I was a kid in school. 6'2" 170lbs

wow 170 sounds super skinny for 6'2"

Actually, according the the charts, that is a good weight.

[Amby 490]

We need to learn about serving sizes, everything this day and age, at least in America, is super sized.

I've got a diet that works. It's called the FOOD PYRAMID and it's worked since I was a kid in school. 6'2" 170lbs

wow 170 sounds super skinny for 6'2"

Actually, according the the charts, that is a good weight.

I must be a fat ####### because I weigh 172 and I'm 5'10"

Neil must be a really fat ####### because he is 5'5" and he is 165...he's only a size 32 waist

[Danno 1,228]

I've got a diet that works. It's called the FOOD PYRAMID and it's worked since I was a kid in school. 6'2" 170lbs

And you're like 26 I think?

Buddy, let's see what you look like at 46.

Edited February 10, 2009 by Danno

[Jasman0717 9]

We need to learn about serving sizes, everything this day and age, at least in America, is super sized.

I've got a diet that works. It's called the FOOD PYRAMID and it's worked since I was a kid in school. 6'2" 170lbs

wow 170 sounds super skinny for 6'2"

Actually, according the the charts, that is a good weight.

I must be a fat ####### because I weigh 172 and I'm 5'10"

Neil must be a really fat ####### because he is 5'5" and he is 165...he's only a size 32 waist

I am king kong

[chri'stina 190]

Children tend to eat what their parents eat, finds a new study that suggests a parental contribution to the growing obesity problem among young children and teenagers.

Ok I promise to eat better if my wife and I have kids.

Yeah then you will have even less time and will probably eat junk that's fast to make.

Of course kids eat what their parents eat, the parents are getting or making food for the whole family.

[Danno 1,228]

I would rather my kid smoke, than be fat.

[chri'stina 190]

I would rather my kid smoke, than be fat.

That's dumb.