Childhood Obesity

[Green Gaia]

With more and more children becoming obese, who's fault is it and what can we do to stop this trend?

 

[Lightkeeper]

I think it's the fault of the parents. The only exception would be any disease that would cause obesity. I think the problem is lack of activity, poor nutrition and sitting the child in front of the TV with a bag of chips. The solution is to spend more quality time with your child, learn about proper nutrition, don't make fast food a habit and encourage physical activity. Many people use food as a substitute for love. They try to fill a vacancy inside of them with food.

 

[Runt]

I think parents are responsible, yes, but I think ultimately it comes down to society. We are a society of fast food, movies and other "sit down for hours on end entertainment", "life to the fullest" rather than life in moderation. I think if society as a whole promoted healthy living, individual members of society would be more likely to live healthy.

However, it is ironic that, in order for society to have such a shift in focus, there must first be a shift in focus of individuals. And yet to get such a huge shift in focus in enough individuals that there will be a shift in focus of society means that the shift must be caused by something OUTSIDE of the individual and society.

Maybe the media and entertainment could help promote healthy living? I don't know...

 

[Ceridwen018]

I think all of those are correct. Parents need to instill basic nutritional ideals in their kids by way of example or otherwise. Somewhere down the line, the kid is going to need to become self-motivated. Better phys-ed and health classes in schools could help immensely, and if the media and society promoted healthier lifestyle, it could move mountains.

 

[tumble_weed]

I would have to agree with Runt...I don't think it's any one person/group's fault, but I think the majority of the blame is likely to be just from society...everyone knows the powerful effects of marketing and advetising...The this is where the parents are to blame...when the children ask their parents "aww can we stop at mcdonalds". But the parents don't want to be seen as bad parents so they let their children have fast food nearly everyday. Also some of the blame can be placed on the children themselves...many children know that fast food is unhealthy if eaten too often but insist on having in because it makes them feel good. However I think schools are least to blame for obesity since most schools try to incorporate sports/physical education into the schooling system.

 

[Metanoia]

I think that society creates an environment where poor nutrition and excercise habits are encouraged. We live in a world where the majority see their goals as owning a car, house, tv, computer, etc... And to get these quite often both parents work to acheive these societal goals that say we're "successful", therefore take away and microwave meals become more prolific.

Also I've noticed that if the parents aren't fit then the child is prone to be in a worse physical condition. I think it is important that parents encourage excercise and healthy eating habits, because these will stay with the child for the rest of their lives... however it is hard when our society promots the unhealthy alternative and when fast foods are cheaper as a meal when you are not in a position to make your own.

 

[Greyson]

Where I live, Keeping kids fit means in a mentally fit condition. it has already been proven that if a person has the genetics from the start to have a bodybuilder workout, then that person will naturally get a great looking physique, but if it isn't in their genetics, then forget it. Working out will not help someone whom is heaveyset, nor will dieting do them much good. The media always screams for diet and working out. This is the kind of propeganda that society where I live should stop. Second, let's say that dieting works out here. Who is going to pay for the diet? We sure aren't. It is far cheaper to eat regular foods than it is to buy diet foods out here.
So until Uncle Sam decides to quite being greedy and taking all our money on taxes for his war machine, the people out here will not be dieting.
On a side note, it's kind of funny...I have seen more people who work out die faster here, than people who smoke, drink, engage heavily in sexual activity, etc.
It kinda shows me something.
Great poll, I commend you.

 

[Quoth The Raven]

it has already been proven that if a person has the genetics from the start to have a bodybuilder workout, then that person will naturally get a great looking physique, but if it isn't in their genetics, then forget it. Working out will not help someone whom is heaveyset, nor will dieting do them much good. The media always screams for diet and working out. This is the kind of propeganda that society where I live should stop. Second, let's say that dieting works out here. Who is going to pay for the diet? We sure aren't. It is far cheaper to eat regular foods than it is to buy diet foods out here.

For starters, there's a difference between being genetically predisposed to being heavyset, and being clinically and life threateningly obese. Yes, there is a lot of emphasis placed on being slim=being beautiful, often to the detriment of teenagers who fall prey to all manner of eating disorders, and this is wrong. But by the same token people in general are getting larger and larger. Not heavyset/curvacious/big boned, but FAT. Overeating is an eating disorder just as much as anorexia.
As for it being cheaper to eat regular foods than buy diet foods, I'm not sure what your definition of 'regular foods' are, but fresh meat, fruit and vegetables are both what I would define as 'regular' food, and indeed healthy and reasonably low fat.

We live in a world where the majority see their goals as owning a car, house, tv, computer, etc... And to get these quite often both parents work to acheive these societal goals that say we're "successful", therefore take away and microwave meals become more prolific.

Honestly, that's a bit of a cop out. My partner and I both currently work full time in our own landscaping business. I also have another small retail business I run from home via the net.We have 3 children aged between 3 & 9. We still manage to have healthy home cooked meals 6 days out of 7. I can manage to find 5 minutes out of my morning to make healthy school lunches.
If nothing else theres the economic considerations of fast food...weigh up $28 on MacDonalds for lunch against $13.00 for a home cooked meal of meat and vegetables. How people manage to afford to eat takeaway all the time is beyond me.

 

[godischange]

It's the parents and the kids fault. The parents need to motivate kids, and the kids have to do it!

 

[Doodlebug02]

I'd have to say the parents/care takers and the kids themselves. The parents/care takers should try to encourage their children to get out and play but the children need to cooperate as well.

 

[fromthe heart]

I say it's first the parents fault and coming in a close second is society...Parents have first say in how their kids eat...if you instill good eating habbits in your kids they won't become obese. Parents HAVE to set good examples themselves...if they live on high fat foods such as most take-outs then that is all the kids learn...and if the parent is obese usually it's from how they eat or lack of exercise or both. I don't believe we are born to be fat...I think we make ourselves that way....now please don't misunderstand there are some that seem no matter what they do have a weight problem...but when you see it coming don't just use genetics or such as an excuse to let it continue. As for society...well there is all sorts of chemicals being put into our food chain to produce faster,bigger and to last longer on some shelf somewhere. Our cows weren't made to eat meat but some goof ball somewhere found out they'll grow differently when you put more 'stuff' in their food...they also put medicines in them as well...gosh I imagine they have changed the whole make-up of some of our food products.


The point is we have to accept responsibility for ourselves...read the labels, check out the food sources...it'll shock you at what we consume that wasn't and shouldn't be consumed by humans.

 

[Lintu]

I think it's the parents fault (at least when the kids are young). I can't resist certain foods, so I don't bring them into the house. I'm not going to buy candy and Lunchables and junk food. I also am not going to let my kids have TVs in their bedrooms, and they won't be allowed to use the TV/computer/video games until they've done some sort of physical activity first. Maybe that sounds strict, but it's how I feel.

My sister is obese, and my parents never really did much. She had (and probably still has) dangerously high cholesterol as a kid and they were given a list of things she shouldn't eat. Well, guess what...they still bought the fried foods and chips. It's not like at age 10 she was going to find her way to the grocery store and eat them herself.

I think that blaming society is a cop-out. Just because everyone else thinks it's a good idea to eat at McDonalds and watch TV all night doesn't mean that you have to do it. Just because your kids see junk food on TV doesn't make you have to go out and buy it. Trust me, my grandmother made my mom and aunt eat all sorts of gross healthy food, and it's not like they're traumatized for being told "no" at the supermarket.

Schools should only sell reasonably healthy food.

 

[The Voice of Reason]

Hello Pat - nice name. I'm guessing that you joined the site to learn more about your particular belief system and those beliefs held by others - right?

TVOR

 

[Rex]

Hello, i am a little fat white boy. I am fine with being obese! and if i wasn't obese, i would stop eating! so shut up about these poor kids who claim they can't help being fat, but just like to eat way too much

Obesity is a disease.

The condition of being significantly overweight. It is usually applied to a condition of 30 percent or more over ideal body weight. Obesity puts a strain on the heart and can increase the chance of developing high blood pressure and diabetes.

 

[ZombieJesus]

I think it is society's fault for all the obese children. Why is it that some children can be horribly overweight, and others starve. We should regulate the amount of food allowed to be consumed by families, dependant on the number of members in their family, thus everyone would have equal rights to food, and another of societys many problems would be solved.

 

[jewscout]

Parents should be taking an active role in all aspects of their children's life, especially eating habit which tend to form at a very young age.

 

[Master Vigil]

Now they have toys that make McDonalds McFlurries, and fries and such. So kids don't even have to get up and walk to the car!!! They can just sit there and eat McDonalds all day. Obesity is really ruining our nation. Something should be done about it.

 

[painted wolf]

I think children are bing sent mixed messages. On one hand they are being taught the food pyramid and how to be healthy, and advertizing that tells them that to be thin is to be beautiful. On the other hand Fast food/candy and soda companies fight over who gets to peddle thier junk to the kids in thier schools. Kids have the choise to eat the school food, (I'm sure that everyone remembers the jokes about how good school food is) or they can eat at the MacDonalds/Taco Bell or whatever that now has a store in the cafeteria, or they can go buy a Snikers and a Coke from the vending machine in the hall. Afterall the advertizements never show any fat people eating them so it must be good too right?
Kids are also told that they should be active and excersize, but they have to learn to sit still and not move for hours on end... like adults. If a kid has problem keeping still, the answer is to medicate them so they will stay still, gotta' love Rittalin. When they get home the parents tired from working all day just want the kids to be quiet as well. So infront of TV they go, to sit and be entertained by Americas favorite babysitter. The parents themselves are probably 'relaxing' by watching it anyway. So to be adult is to sit still and watch TV, and what kid doesn't want to be 'just like the grown ups'.
eh, enough ranting ...

wa:do

 

[huajiro]

Parents are responsible for everything that happens with their children...they should set an example for them.

 

[The People]

Society is rezbonzible for ze kids. Ze government must provide athletics for zem, in the USSR III children are given every chance to learn and become fit, after zat, it is up to zem to decide to make use of zer bodies. How can ve achieve equality if vee dont have support from zee Government to level ze differences created by money!
VIVE LOS COMMUNISTOS!!!!!