$500 Million to fight obesity?

[Aymerlu 3]

A lot (most) of the time it's the parents fault. Now I do think there are periods of time that all kids get that little tummy because it's a phase they go though and some kids may be 10-15 pounds overweight. Not healthy, but I don't consider it a huge problem. But, how many times do you see a family out and EVERYONE in the family is fat? Where are these kids learning their behavior from? Their parents. Who lets them sit in front of the T.V watching shows or playing games for hours every day? Who is driving by the fast food joints? There is so much parents can do regardless of their economic status. Get out and walk or ride bikes with your kids. Cook healthy. I don't know, I guess me being a nurse I really don't have too much sympathy for the overweight when I always see them with a soda in one hand and a candy bar in the other and then they are upset because they have high cholesterol, joint and back pain, etc.

[Alex+R 0]

A lot (most) of the time it's the parents fault. Now I do think there are periods of time that all kids get that little tummy because it's a phase they go though and some kids may be 10-15 pounds overweight. Not healthy, but I don't consider it a huge problem. But, how many times do you see a family out and EVERYONE in the family is fat? Where are these kids learning their behavior from? Their parents. Who lets them sit in front of the T.V watching shows or playing games for hours every day? Who is driving by the fast food joints? There is so much parents can do regardless of their economic status. Get out and walk or ride bikes with your kids. Cook healthy. ...

What I see around here a lot are rail-thin moms at Whole Foods with their fat sons and daughters. I think I see more skinny moms with fat kids than fat families. Kids must have a certain amount of choice in those families. But if the parents have healthy eating habits and they can't stop their kids from being fat, then I don't think you can entirely blame the parents. That seems unfair.

[Caladan 19]

Private foundations can do whatever they want. This is a good idea.

It's very easy to say 'it's just diet and exercise!' (I'm sure that's all it is in Cambodia... mmhmmm...) But really, we've basically created a society where food is plentiful, high in calories, and cheap (that's why poverty and obesity are correlated); where high-fructose corn syrup is in everything (educating palates to like crappy food; where we eliminate exercise and recess from education (and then pump 'em full of Ritalin because they won't sit down); and then blame people for not going to Whole Foods.

Are we on crack? (No, that would make us thin.)

[Aymerlu 3]

A lot (most) of the time it's the parents fault. Now I do think there are periods of time that all kids get that little tummy because it's a phase they go though and some kids may be 10-15 pounds overweight. Not healthy, but I don't consider it a huge problem. But, how many times do you see a family out and EVERYONE in the family is fat? Where are these kids learning their behavior from? Their parents. Who lets them sit in front of the T.V watching shows or playing games for hours every day? Who is driving by the fast food joints? There is so much parents can do regardless of their economic status. Get out and walk or ride bikes with your kids. Cook healthy. ...

What I see around here a lot are rail-thin moms at Whole Foods with their fat sons and daughters. I think I see more skinny moms with fat kids than fat families. Kids must have a certain amount of choice in those families. But if the parents have healthy eating habits and they can't stop their kids from being fat, then I don't think you can entirely blame the parents. That seems unfair.

I worked in a pedicatric clinic for a few years and have to say I will disagree. Sure there are thin mothers with obese children, but the number of obese parents with obese children is a lot higher. I know when I was young and stayed at home during the summer I would eat all day when my parents were gone. When I gained a lot of weight, my parents kicked my butt out in the garden, moving the lawn, etc to make sure I didn't become a fluffy adult.

[Alex+R 0]

A lot (most) of the time it's the parents fault. Now I do think there are periods of time that all kids get that little tummy because it's a phase they go though and some kids may be 10-15 pounds overweight. Not healthy, but I don't consider it a huge problem. But, how many times do you see a family out and EVERYONE in the family is fat? Where are these kids learning their behavior from? Their parents. Who lets them sit in front of the T.V watching shows or playing games for hours every day? Who is driving by the fast food joints? There is so much parents can do regardless of their economic status. Get out and walk or ride bikes with your kids. Cook healthy. ...

What I see around here a lot are rail-thin moms at Whole Foods with their fat sons and daughters. I think I see more skinny moms with fat kids than fat families. Kids must have a certain amount of choice in those families. But if the parents have healthy eating habits and they can't stop their kids from being fat, then I don't think you can entirely blame the parents. That seems unfair.

I worked in a pedicatric clinic for a few years and have to say I will disagree. Sure there are thin mothers with obese children, but the number of obese parents with obese children is a lot higher. I know when I was young and stayed at home during the summer I would eat all day when my parents were gone. When I gained a lot of weight, my parents kicked my butt out in the garden, moving the lawn, etc to make sure I didn't become a fluffy adult.

I wonder if part of it isn't that parents don't want to give their kids a complex about their weight. Their natural lifestyle leads to gaining weight, and then the parents are afraid that if they say something, the kid will become anorexic or something... dunno.

[Aymerlu 3]

A lot (most) of the time it's the parents fault. Now I do think there are periods of time that all kids get that little tummy because it's a phase they go though and some kids may be 10-15 pounds overweight. Not healthy, but I don't consider it a huge problem. But, how many times do you see a family out and EVERYONE in the family is fat? Where are these kids learning their behavior from? Their parents. Who lets them sit in front of the T.V watching shows or playing games for hours every day? Who is driving by the fast food joints? There is so much parents can do regardless of their economic status. Get out and walk or ride bikes with your kids. Cook healthy. ...

What I see around here a lot are rail-thin moms at Whole Foods with their fat sons and daughters. I think I see more skinny moms with fat kids than fat families. Kids must have a certain amount of choice in those families. But if the parents have healthy eating habits and they can't stop their kids from being fat, then I don't think you can entirely blame the parents. That seems unfair.

I worked in a pedicatric clinic for a few years and have to say I will disagree. Sure there are thin mothers with obese children, but the number of obese parents with obese children is a lot higher. I know when I was young and stayed at home during the summer I would eat all day when my parents were gone. When I gained a lot of weight, my parents kicked my butt out in the garden, moving the lawn, etc to make sure I didn't become a fluffy adult.

I wonder if part of it isn't that parents don't want to give their kids a complex about their weight. Their natural lifestyle leads to gaining weight, and then the parents are afraid that if they say something, the kid will become anorexic or something... dunno.

Probably. Seems anything we do are say these days are is going to give kids a complex. What happened to the good ol days when parents told you exactly how you were acting and you got popped in the butt for acting that way? I don't think it hurt me any.

[Peikko 1,575]

I think what the UK is doing with school dinners (and specifically Jamie Oliver) is a step in the right direction. Kids need to eat healthy.

Not only kids, we all do. While food is a money making industry, food will be 'marketed' for profit not for health. It's not something any politician is going to touch with a barge pole, but it doesn't make it any less true. Essentially, you can't expect a kid to eat healthy while the adults are eating junk.

Jamie Oliver is great though...well, in terms of bringing the state of the UK school meal service to the attention of the masses

Edited April 5, 2007 by Purple_Hibiscus

[Alex+R 0]

I think what the UK is doing with school dinners (and specifically Jamie Oliver) is a step in the right direction. Kids need to eat healthy.

... Essentially, you can't expect a kid to eat healthy while the adults are eating junk. ...

What I don't get is the parents who eat healthy for themselves but who let their kids eat ####### or even encourage it. My parents are like this with my brother, although he seems borderline anorexic. A woman in my office has apparently lost a lot of weight this year and eats salads for lunch, refuses sweets being passed around, etc etc but today she was going on about how her kids "have to have" McDonalds for dinner. I don't understand why she can't connect the dots and protect her kids from that.

[Peikko 1,575]

I think in those cases the problem lies in the parent's having a false idea of what it is to be a parent. It sounds more like they need to get some kind of approval from their children or are afraid to say no or upset their childs expectations because they don't want their kids not to like them or something. No kids 'have to' have anything in my opinion and certainly not tv in bedrooms, the latest of everything etc etc. But, I guess I am digressing...

[Mirorgate 0]

Get the kids off the game consoles and outside playing tag/baseball/football whatever and I doubt you'd see such problems as today.

[Peggy 1]

I believe in some cases parents should be held accountable.

You see so many kids today that are 2 and 3 years old and weigh 100 pounds of more.

Kids today are inside WAY to much. They either are watching TV or playing on the computer.

[MichelleandCraig 1]

I agree, Peg. When I was home summers I was *constantly* outside playing with the neighbor kids...baseball, whathaveyou, riding their horses, playing cowboys & indians when I was young, riding bikes and talking when I got older....but always stuff outside. Mom had to yell for me at dark!! If Corey has someone around so there's something to do, he will go out...but there's way too much Playstation...even in our house. In the summers I try to cut it way down though. M.

[Peikko 1,575]

The media have scared parents to the point where they daren't let their children out of their sight. You are considered a bad parent if you don't know where your kid is at all times or aren't able to see them.

[mawilson 2,133]

What do you suggest should be done instead?

I suggest we send them to Cambodia for a few years.

[Nagishkaw 510]

Edited April 5, 2007 by Nagishkaw