Obesity in Kids (America, church, organization, Article)

[SunMessenger]

Originally Posted by tcprowling

One of our major political parties is advocating a ban on the advertisement of junk food, in an effort to combat obesity in our Children.
Ok this issue has been around for a while it prompts me tp ask
Is obesity in kids a real issue or is it just a popular bandwagon politians can hitch a ride on?
If it is a problem, whose responsibility should it be? Parents, governments, schools?
Are our kids to day any more obese then say a generation or two ago?
Is the lifestyle kids live today a contributing factor to the problem?

This is all bologna... so to speak. For crying outloud. Let the parent be responsible for their own children. Will we have any rights left after this regulation explosion. Let the kids enjoy some too. One of the best things we can do is remove the word OBESE from the dictionary. That is really great for a child to hear from someone. You are OBESE. Like some monster or something. Cut it out. These Politicians are ruining this country and the world. I pray everyday for a solution and I will continue to ... God Bless

[kateyes]

Originally Posted by ladyhawke

TC..i hope you dont mind me putting up a link....Jamie Oliver has been a huge influance in the way british school children are now being fed...

Sounds like a much better plan than what we currently have in the US--where school cafeterias get to call ketchup a serving of vegetables.

[SunMessenger]

Originally Posted by kateyes

Sounds like a much better plan than what we currently have in the US--where school cafeterias get to call ketchup a serving of vegetables.

Well then go after that particular problem. Dont let the government take away every choice we have. Come on. This is America not the old USSR...

[mr.guy]

Originally Posted by sunmessenger

That is really great for a child to hear from someone. You are OBESE.

Better than: "you have type II diabetes", or "you probably won't outlive your parents"

[SunMessenger]

Originally Posted by mr.guy

Better than: "you have type II diabetes", or "you probably won't outlive your parents"

Can't people have more compassion and use a more sensative word. Better than living with the stigma of being a monster your entire life. We need to increase the Childs self esteem, Not blow it to hell ...

[Faint]

Originally Posted by tcprowling

One of our major political parties is advocating a ban on the advertisement of junk food, in an effort to combat obesity in our Children.

That's stupid (the ban, not your post).
If they want to combat obesity they'd do better to start by banning home video game systems and increase physical fitness requirements in school.
I eat plenty of junk food (because it tastes good), but I still maintain an athletic build because I burn the calories by staying active and hitting the gym five nights a week. Politicians can ban all the junk food adds that they want, but parents will likely keep on feeding their kids high calorie/fatty foods just because it's generally easier than cooking up something healthier. And even IF the parents get on the ball and serve health food, if the kid isn't burning the calories, s/he's still going to gain weight.

Originally Posted by tcprowling

If it is a problem, whose responsibility should it be? Parents, governments, schools?
Are our kids to day any more obese then say a generation or two ago?
Is the lifestyle kids live today a contributing factor to the problem?

With any thing that puts children at risk, I think the solution always should begin at home...with the parents. But, because we know parents drop the ball a lot, that's when the government should get involved, and in this case--the government can get involved by setting up new standards in public school, specifically with Phys.Ed. Get those kids doing rigourous exercise for forty-five/fifty (how long are classes now?) minutes a day, five days a week--you'll see improvements.

(And no, I don't really advocate banning home video game systems...your Xbox is safe)

[mr.guy]

Originally Posted by SunMessenger

Can't people have more compassion and use a more sensative word.

That's kinda how the term "obese" came into popular usage in the first place; we used to call people "fat".

Better than living with the stigma of being a monster your entire life.

The term "obese" is clinical. The stigma is attached to what is generally an easily remedied state of health.

We need to increase the Childs self esteem, Not blow it to hell ...

OR...we could maybe, get them to stop eating so much sugar, go outside, you know; not subject them to the health-shattering conditions of life-long obesity.

[Faint]

Originally Posted by SunMessenger

Can't people have more compassion and use a more sensative word. Better than living with the stigma of being a monster your entire life. We need to increase the Childs self esteem, Not blow it to hell ...

Political correctness does not change a term's meaning. Actually, obese used to be a nicer way of calling someone "fat" (I guess it sounded more medical or something). I can't stand this attitude personally--why should people who have a problem that they can actually do something about (in almost all cases) be made to feel like that problem is okay? You want to tell kids, "It's alright to be lazy" or "you're not obese, you're slenderly challenged"? No! The little butterballs are FAT, and it's a serious risk to their health. It's better that there's a stigma, and that they learn the truth of their condition rather than trying to sugarcoat something that needs to be changed.

(Besides, if you sugarcoat something, they'll probably eat that too.)

[ladyhawke]

Originally Posted by SunMessenger

Can't people have more compassion and use a more sensative word. Better than living with the stigma of being a monster your entire life. We need to increase the Childs self esteem, Not blow it to hell ...

Children tend to be obese(what word would you prefer....fat)..due to a lack of knowledge about nutriton on the parents side...children can be fed the good stuff or the bad stuff...as a parent it is YOUR responsibilty to teach them how to feed their bodies so they will have optimum health...(genetics and disorders are a differant matter)....obese children already have self esteem issues,the way to help them is to educate them that food is a fuel....give it the best it will serve you well,give it rubbish and it will slow you down...kids eat junk...we all eat junk,but it should'nt be all the time...exercise is good for them too..but i live in the country and there is'nt a kid round here that does'nt own a bike or play football...we are VERY lucky our kids have that everyday...i know its not that easy in big cities.