is allowing your child to become obese child abuse?

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

So are we going to see legislation making bad foods illegal for certain age groups like alcohol? Then it would make more sense to want to go after the parents of high-fat diet induced obese kids... My number one fight as a teacher with the school I taught at was in removing the soda/pop machines and the junk food vending machines from school premises... And you all know how that was quickly justified in terms of the kick back the school got from the vendors.

I believe all the California schools have removed all soda and candy vending machines from their campuses. Yeah, I remember reading about the kick backs schools were getting in Fast Food Nation. I'm still surprised by what they offer in the cafeteria for lunches though. When I asked my 8 yr. old what were his choices for lunch that day, he said nachos or yogurt and granola.

I know...

Then there's the whole issue of a nutritious curriculum.

I remember when I was in grade school - they fed us nutritionally complete meals even though for the most part, they were god-awful. Maybe the logic now is that instead of throwing out so much wasted food (string beans - for example) they try to find foods that are more appetizing?

[HAL 9000 96]

Whatever's cheapest and most filling... =(

[Amby 490]

Here the school lunch menu always had an "alternate" choice that was normally less healthy.

[mawilson 2,133]

Obese abuse... let's just call it "obuse".

[Amby 490]

Obese abuse... let's just call it "obuse".

hahaha BACK TO TOPIC!

[HAL 9000 96]

It doesn't help that PE curricula are also being reduced in the larger school districts.

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

It doesn't help that PE curricula are also being reduced in the larger school districts.

Yep. My son's school had to cut it this year. Those who think the public schools are failing are doing a pretty good job of making sure they will. It's sad.

[AlHayatZween 2]

So are we going to see legislation making bad foods illegal for certain age groups like alcohol? Then it would make more sense to want to go after the parents of high-fat diet induced obese kids... My number one fight as a teacher with the school I taught at was in removing the soda/pop machines and the junk food vending machines from school premises... And you all know how that was quickly justified in terms of the kick back the school got from the vendors.

Good work, Hal.

Yeah, that's the thing... School lunches are high-calorie, too. And PE is a joke now in schools, if it is offered at all.

i think it is abusive to knowingly feed your kid stuff that will allow him/her to be obese. Are there any statistics about the parents of obese children? Are obese parents raising obese children?

Also, for the record, i puffy heart MaWilson.

[S and S 12]

I don't think its just about PE in school, though that is important. When I was growing up my friends and I played outside just as much as inside. Now you see fewer and fewer kids playing outside. I realize we are more safety conscious, but there are parks and other recreational places parents can take their kids to get out and get more exercise. Its really a balance of nutrition and exercise.

[NickD 203]

Just a casual observation, no scientific statistical data to back this up. But has to be in the genes, if I see fat kids, also see fat parents, also see two shopping carts loaded with junk food. If I did bring my camera to the grocery store, would also have to bring a wide angle lens, see a lot of women with three or longer wide butts. Can only, but try not to, wonder how they can wipe their butts.

But each to his own. Did hear a state senator on WPS radio wanting to pass legislation where health safety should be like driving safety with strict laws to reduce the cost of healthcare. Thought this is going too far where the government is telling you what you can and cannot eat and how much of it.

Some of us don't have the problem, if I eat like a horse, will have to go to the restroom like a horse, just wasting food, so eat just enough to keep me going. Only way I can put on weight is to do strenuous exercise to develop muscle mass. Lucky I guess, so are my kids, but I cannot be critical of those that are not lucky. Has to be in the genes.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

I don't know if anyone had the chance to watch this show. I followed it while in Canada. A GREAT exercise to change the school lunches, this in London. Worth the look. Kids did not even know what a broccoli looks like. No, i am not kidding.

[Peikko 1,575]

The naked chef, yay!

I don't allow my kid to take school meals because they are ####### - which I find very annoying.

Oh, and yes it is a form of abuse, though whether criminal charges should be meted out is less obvious - certainly not jail time as I can't see how that would help the child exactly.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

The naked chef, yay!

I don't allow my kid to take school meals because they are ####### - which I find very annoying.

Oh, and yes it is a form of abuse, though whether criminal charges should be meted out is less obvious - certainly not jail time as I can't see how that would help the child exactly.

I adored that show. Jamie actually went to b1tchslap some bureaucrats in charge. That was my fave part.

[Peikko 1,575]

It was a great show - I liked the dinner ladies, took me back to my youth

[HAL 9000 96]

Just a casual observation, no scientific statistical data to back this up. But has to be in the genes, if I see fat kids, also see fat parents, also see two shopping carts loaded with junk food. If I did bring my camera to the grocery store, would also have to bring a wide angle lens, see a lot of women with three or longer wide butts. Can only, but try not to, wonder how they can wipe their butts.

But each to his own. Did hear a state senator on WPS radio wanting to pass legislation where health safety should be like driving safety with strict laws to reduce the cost of healthcare. Thought this is going too far where the government is telling you what you can and cannot eat and how much of it.

Some of us don't have the problem, if I eat like a horse, will have to go to the restroom like a horse, just wasting food, so eat just enough to keep me going. Only way I can put on weight is to do strenuous exercise to develop muscle mass. Lucky I guess, so are my kids, but I cannot be critical of those that are not lucky. Has to be in the genes.

Some of it is genes, yes. Look up the following: Leptin insensitivity.

What part of it is likely genes? The ability for us to turn off our brain's satiation state via pleasurable continuation of food consumption in this modern sedentary age. You see back when NickD's ancestors were hanging around the African brush, food wasn't exactly as easy as going to the corner store. Our brains, as in other mammals, would permit the accumulation of food in our bodies beyond the satiated state so that we could store more energy as fat. We are still wired this way. Hence when droughts set in we'd have a higher chance of not starving to death. Problem is that today while we still have this capacity, our hedonistic drive and sedentary habits have turned this previously advantageous mechanism againt us by keeping fat levels high AND making the satiation thresholds higher. Hence more fat, more of the time.

The end result will be even more diabetes and coronary disease.