Children obesity, A concern for parents

[markdavis0011]

The post states:

"A new poll released today shows a large a gap between parents’ perceptions of their children’s weight and expert definitions. According to their parents, 15 percent of children are a little or very overweight, while national data suggest more than twice as many, or 32 percent of all children, are overweight or obese. The poll was conducted by NPR,the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), and Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH).

In addition, only 20 percent of children in households that participated in this poll had a parent who was concerned that his or her child will be overweight as an adult. However, it is estimated that 69 percent of adults are overweight, including 36 percent who are obese and an additional 6 percent who have “extreme obesity.”1 Together, these results indicate that parents may underestimate their children’s current risk for being overweight or obese, and how that risk could continue to impact them as adults."

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[The Atheist]

Newsflash: parents are idiots.

Fast food, soda, lollies and too many carbs along with too little exercise. These things are so obvious that the only can be lousy parenting.

[markdavis0011]

That is true. But calling those parents idiots looks hilarious seriously.

[Charles Darnay]

They are idiots, but that's not the only cause. A fast paced life for parents plus stationary existence for kids. It equals out.

[Helga]

It also has a bit to do with money, when you get a big and cheap meal at burger places but vegetables, fruits and lean meat is expensive it is easy to go with the big mac.

But in the end it's probably the parents, they often give in before the kids make a noise. I was at the supermarket a while back and a lady had a kid around 2 years old and before she even started shopping and the kid sat quietly in the cart she found a bag of chips and opened it and gave the kid. She didn't even have the excuse of a screaming kid.

[cafolini]

I think since time immemorial pleasurable food has been a good substitute for the pain of thinking. But as long as thinking is available, progress is being made in human evolution. Obesity has not necessarily increased. The reporting of it has, just like everything else that was there before appears to be new with the advances of the reporting media. Earthquakes, Inundations, Loss of Life, Obesity, you name it. Good job on the part of dieticians who work at revealing these facts.

However, diets that prohibit things instead of cutting down the eating, are not acceptable to me. So with the case of people that can control smoking to 2 or 3 cigarettes per day. Sugar is a big enemy, but 1 or 2 tsp per day is not. Caffeine could be a big enemy, but 140 mg per day is good for anyone, including many people with heart decease using alternative medicines. Eat to live well. Don't live to eat.

[markdavis0011]

I think since time immemorial pleasurable food has been a good substitute for the pain of thinking. But as long as thinking is available, progress is being made in human evolution. Obesity has not necessarily increased. The reporting of it has, just like everything else that was there before appears to be new with the advances of the reporting media. Earthquakes, Inundations, Loss of Life, Obesity, you name it. Good job on the part of dieticians who work at revealing these facts.

However, diets that prohibit things instead of cutting down the eating, are not acceptable to me. So with the case of people that can control smoking to 2 or 3 cigarettes per day. Sugar is a big enemy, but 1 or 2 tsp per day is not. Caffeine could be a big enemy, but 140 mg per day is good for anyone, including many people with heart decease using alternative medicines. Eat to live well. Don't live to eat.

Well this is the rightest thing you said. We should look to cut down, not entirely avoid. I can add a simple sentence to your statement that "access of everything is bad even if it is milk"

[The Atheist]

They are idiots, but that's not the only cause. A fast paced life for parents plus stationary existence for kids. It equals out.

That would make sense if the obesity was a child-only problem, but we know for certain that adult humans are the fattest they've ever been, and that about half of the ones in the western world are overweight or obese.

The pace of life is a myth - people work far fewer hours than they used to, and many of the hours they do work is actually spent playing with their smartphones, or other non-productive tasks.

It also has a bit to do with money, when you get a big and cheap meal at burger places but vegetables, fruits and lean meat is expensive it is easy to go with the big mac.

Sorry, but that kind of comment makes me extremely angry.

It is utterly false and is a sop to lazy, lousy parents. Fresh food is NOT cheaper than fast food. I spent a lot of time proving that beyond any doubt a couple of months back, because the argument makes me sick. I can cook a healthy, filling meal for five people for well under $20. Now try to feed a family on any fast food for $20.

Some fresh food can be expensive, but mainly due to being out of season. In season, vegetables and fruit are the cheapest food one can buy.

But in the end it's probably the parents, they often give in before the kids make a noise. I was at the supermarket a while back and a lady had a kid around 2 years old and before she even started shopping and the kid sat quietly in the cart she found a bag of chips and opened it and gave the kid. She didn't even have the excuse of a screaming kid.

This is more tripe.

If you don't start giving kids junk food, they never get used to it and don't scream for it.

You have, however, provided superb evidence of what I'm saying about parents being stupid. Thanks for reminding me I forgot to add "lazy".

[cafolini]

Well this is the rightest thing you said. We should look to cut down, not entirely avoid. I can add a simple sentence to your statement that "access of everything is bad even if it is milk"

I take it you meant "excess," not "access."

And yes, it's the excess. Skim milk is very healthy. 3 hours before going to sleep, a tablespoon of almond butter with two 8 oz. glasses of skim milk (protein balanced with the almond) is very good, for example. For one meal, earlier, chop 3 of the following: baby carrots, snap peas, broccoli, spinach, red bell pepper. Add 4 or 5 cloves of chopped garlic. Make a pocket with two pieces of aluminum foil and put the stuff inside, then fold it by closing all sides. Put in the oven for 10 minutes at 350 F, then turn it over and grill another 10 minutes. Pour it into a warm wholewheat tortilla and enjoy. The same grilled vegetables could be used for making some pasta primavera. If you use semolina pasta you are in the right track. You can use a little powdered butter to give it some good flavor, and a little heavy cream to simulate Alfredo sauce.
There are many alternatives. In the morning you should have the heaviest meals and a portion of fruits, like pineapple, apple, some banana (not very ripe), grapefruit, etc. Well, live well.

[LitNetIsGreat]

Have to agree with Atheist clearly the parents, how could it not be? End of conversation.

[cafolini]

Have to agree with Atheist clearly the parents, how could it not be? End of conversation.

LOL It's the parents' parents and Mongo Aurelio.

[LitNetIsGreat]

LOL It's the parents' parents and Mongo Aurelio.

Ha, ha, no it is the parents', parents' parents fault to be sure. It's the crap parenting cycle; keeps on riding.

[Ecurb]

I blame those silly Botticelli cherubs! Those fat little babies have become the ideals of cuteness.

If only Boticelli had consigned them to the Bonfire of the Vanities, we'd have a healthier society today.

[Delta40]

Do you think there has been a change in the sort of freedom children have to just run around and play? By that I mean I come from a generation where my parents kicked us out of the house to join the other kids and we didn't come back till dinner time. We walked the 2km to the beach, swam for hours and then walked back. This is now considered abuse or unsafe not to supervise your kids. Parents are under this pressure to know where their kids are at all times. Couple that with the technology of gaming and there is a more sedentary lifestyle. Throw the accessibility of fast food into the mix which was not an economic choice before - just like two cars weren't and it seems reasonable to me that obesity would be on the rise.

[LitNetIsGreat]

No. If you let your kid munch burgers all day while sat in front of the X-box then whose fault is that? A parent should have the common sense to provide at least some sort of balanced, healthy lifestyle. If there is a change in the freedom given to children then whose fault is that again? Five year old kids should not be obese, and if they are, the fault doesn't lie with the five year old.