Which issue is most to blame for the current childhood obesity epedemic?

**Kris10** · 09-27-2007, 03:13 PM

Which issue is most to blame for the current childhood obesity epedemic? Cast your vote and discuss in this thread.

**MrKhay** · 09-27-2007, 04:29 PM

I couldn't pick 3, so I went with "other".
I believe students are fed nutritional meals in school. Only because there is an authoritive standard that must be met.

Parents not only should monitor, and prepare healthy, balanced meals for their children, they should also monitor what children watch on television, and motivate them to get outside, and burn off the excess energy.

Parents and school teachers alike, should hold themselves to standards that would instill proper eating habits, and exercise.

A healthy mind goes with a healthy body, in most cases. Education is crucial in all aspects of healthy living.

"Obesity" is a catch word...a politically correct term used in describing 'Fat'. Obesity is actually a inherited disease. Being fat is not an inherited disease, rather an instilled weakness.

These are some of my thoughts, and understandings...opinions, if you will.

kmfarm · 09-27-2007, 07:09 PM

Pretty simple. Lazy parents passing on their habits to there kids.

Mark

pk · 09-27-2007, 11:37 PM

First of all, I could not pick just 'one' answer. It is really a combination of lack of exercise AND unhealthy eating/fast foods.

Quote:

Pretty simple. Lazy parents passing on their habits to there kids.

I do however disagree with the above statement to pass it totally onto the parent. So many people have to pass it on to the parent when there is a problem with the child..and yes, many times the child's behavior or 'issues' may be that of the parents fault. But I have also seen it enough times that it is not the parents fault that I feel very hesitant to always just throw it on the parents lap.

I happen to know a mom that is very active, always on the go, believes in motivating her child to 'do something'! Has her child swimming, bowling, etc. etc...she watches everything he eats, and packs him a wonderful lunch, much better than the school lunches they provide at the schools.

He is very healthy, rarely sick at all. He gets great grades, and an all around nice child. But when you look at him you would say he was over his weight limit.

Why?

The only thing I will say is as much as the mother tries to keep him active, and to watch his food intake he just simply not really interested in outdoor activities. He much prefer to read a book, work hard on his homework, or play his gameboy. To get him motivated into active sports usually takes some doing. So is this the parents fault that their child is simply more laid back and borderline lazy?

A parent can do just so much. The child has to understand his health issue and try harder.

kmfarm · 09-28-2007, 05:40 AM

I do agree PK that it's not all parental issues. My response to the poll is what it "most blame". Which I stand by.

Mark

shoppass · 09-28-2007, 05:52 AM

I have 4 children, one my daugheter is petite and one of my sons is rather heavy...

I don't think as parents we we're lazy and passed on our behaviours - but I do think we could have and should have been a bit more in control of his eating habits or (educated in diet)...much of the problem is not the eating, it's the lack of exercise and energy which there can be of a number of reasons for this too...laziness in many cases - medical conditions such as Asthma - prescriptions that may make the children tired is also a cause..

My Grandmother died at the age of 93 and she was very obese her entire life?

Walk through most high schools today and you'll see one of the problems..vending machines and fast food!

**keith** · 09-28-2007, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrKhay

I couldn't pick 3, so I went with "other".
I believe students are fed nutritional meals in school. Only because there is an authoritive standard that must be met.

I wish this were the case. Sadly, it is often - even usually - quite the opposite. Strongly recommend: the documentary Super Size Me. Soda and candy machines are the norm in school cafeterias. Choices include pizza, fries, and too many low nutrition/high-fat and sugar foods.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrKhay

Parents not only should monitor, and prepare healthy, balanced meals for their children, they should also monitor what children watch on television, and motivate them to get outside, and burn off the excess energy.

Hard to eat real well in front of the computer and TV where we spend more and more of our time. Or when we go out to eat - and the portions are huge.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrKhay

Parents and school teachers alike, should hold themselves to standards that would instill proper eating habits, and exercise.

A healthy mind goes with a healthy body, in most cases. Education is crucial in all aspects of healthy living.

Schools are often cutting back on arts, music...even physical education.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrKhay

"Obesity" is a catch word...a politically correct term used in describing 'Fat'. Obesity is actually a inherited disease. Being fat is not an inherited disease, rather an instilled weakness.

These are some of my thoughts, and understandings...opinions, if you will.

"Obesity" is fat, morbid obesity is 20% or more over ideal body weight. Our diets and lifestyles have changed so much in the last hundred years our bodies aren't keeping up. The average American eats something like a hundred pounds a year of refined sugar. And we've gone indoors and gotten sedentary.

The norm is beginning to change at fast food franchises. The documentary noted above helped get McDonalds to stop super sizing us.

It's funny. Open up a lot of newspapers and magazines or watch a TV show and half the ads are for big burgers, awesome deserts and the like - the other half are for weight loss products and programs...and the articles show way too skinny celebs and models.

Oh well.

Regards,
Keith

KateOYM · 09-28-2007, 10:24 AM

This was a hard one to choose, in my opinion there IS healthy food available in schools - but there's also just as much (if not more) junk food available. When kids can choose between a greasy pizza or vegetables.. chances are they're going to go with the pizza. I think technology has a lot to do with this topic as well. All these video and computer games make kids want to stay indoors being lazy. When I was younger I'm sure part of the reason I was always so skinny was because I was ALWAYS outside running around with the neighbors! When it comes down to it, I believe this is mainly the parents doing - teach your kids good habits, exhibit good habits.

coopergirl3 · 09-28-2007, 10:59 AM

I believe it is a combination of all. I have two girls, one nephew, one niece, and one soon to be stepson. My two girls and soon to be stepson are not overweight in the least. But on the other hand, my niece and nephew are. The three know they have to eat healthy, those are my rules. Granted they do get not good for you treats, but not all the time. And I bake a lot so they get hose naughty baked goods. But, I monitor how much of them they get. My sister's kids are both overweight. Her son is 4 1/2 and he is like 65lbs. all he does is eat and eat. Her daughter is 7 months old and weighs more than my 2 1/2 year old. All she does is eat and eat too. She can't stand them throwing fits so whenever they do, she gives in. He hates veggies, but whenever he is over at my house, he throws a fit because he doesn't want to eat the veggies. But he is not allowed to get up from the table until they are gone. Then he says that they were good. Then whenever we go to the store my 5 year old says I saw that on tv and I want it. I just say too bad unless it is okay and not unhealthy. I also make it a daily thing to play something with my kids that in there eyes is fun, but it is exercise for them. There is also another rule in my house no video games at all, no exceptions. My daughter just started kindergarten and wants to take hot lunch and too much of that is unhealthy, so she gets cold lunch. We also never eat out, part of that is due to the fact that I used to all the time, and I get sick if I even eat a burger anywhere anymore, so that is out. We as parents just have to put our foot down to our kids and make sure they live happy healthy lives. At least half of my family is overweight and I can see that they are not happy with that, and I don't want my kids to end up unhappy. The worst part of all of what I said, is I am only 25 and can realize all of this and a lot of parents that are older thn me can't. I am in the age group of people that are not supposed to care, but I do.

Lunch_Lady · 09-28-2007, 07:34 PM

Being the Lunch_Lady that I am, I will not blame it all on the school lunches. I work in an elementary school, the portions that we offer the kids is a standardized portion that we are told by the School Nutrition Association, and we do not offer "junk" foods. I see alot of the littler ones throw out about half to three quarters of their lunches. There is not one vending machine that the kids can use. And at the middle school and high school level the vending machines are no longer on during lunches. And the ones that are on offer juices, water, fruits and veggies.

One thing that I have noticed, is that the teachers offer "snack time." And most of the time, they give candy instead of healthy snacks, and usually it is before lunchtime.

"Kids" need to have the childhood that some of us had--mid 30's and up. We were unable to watch tv, play video games, text messaging, aims, etc.....(for hours at a time, that is.) We had chores to do and we had to find things to do with our time, once chores were done. The words, "I'm bored" was not part of the vocabulary. Even the words, "I need a new game," or "I need more minutes on my phone," just didn't happen. Our lives are now so structured around material things, that some of our kids don't know what it's like to enjoy the outdoors. And siblings were people to have fun with, not to fight with.

I guess, times have changed and they will continue no matter what. Kids will be kids and that includes sweet treats!!!!

kmorga · 09-29-2007, 11:43 AM

I know with myself. I have always been a bigger girl. I was involved in alot of activities and doing something all the time. as a kid i lived on my bike! My mom always made good meals to eat. And yet I am still bigger! Now as a mom myself i have a 3 year old that is very active as he has a brother that is 8 and another brother that is 2 years old. he was born at 8'10 the others were 6 pounds. He still can keep up right with the others but he is bigger! So what!! God made us all the way he wanted us! Yes sometimes it is the parents as i have a cousin that her daughter is always!!! with cookies!!! and she is HUGE!!! That is the parents fault! Parents that won't do anything with there kids then they don't desreve them! Children are a BLESSING and should not be just there!!

**LinksToThePast** · 09-29-2007, 12:30 PM

I think it is not watching what the kids eat. Today's food is filled with so many chemicals, preservatives and all sorts of other junk. I think these additives are a contributing factor to bodies holding on to more fat and water.

I think this is a problem for adults as well as children.

**MrKhay** · 10-01-2007, 12:38 AM

I guess you can tell I don't have any children.
However, I do believe that the term 'obese' is thrown around like a catch phrase, and just a PC word used in place of 'FAT'.

Kids are a product of their environment. Whoever thought that machines vending junk food in the schools was a good idea should have their head examined. Everyone knows that junk food...laden with sugars starches, and fats don't allow a brain to develop normally.
Eat right, and be right.