what are your views on childhood obesity?

[Kageegirl]

My dh and I went to lunch today at our local area taco bell on our way out of town. We sit down at our table after getting our food. I casually look around the room and see a table of 5 young children and 1 parent. All 5 of the children looked grossly over weight. Next to that table sat a group of teens. They like the children were grossly over weight. Two tables of older adults on the other side of the teens were moderately over weight. I felt bad for the table of kids. Two of the girls at the other table just sat there and starred at me almost the whole time. I wondered to myself how these poor children got to the point they were at. Was it genetics or was it poor eating habits. I know some parents now a days like to reward their kids with food or think that to be a normal child you shouldn't deprive them of fast food, junk food ect. I love my children enough to say no. I am trying to teach them about portion control, moderation ect. I tell them they have to eat the nutrious good stuff in order to get the not so nutrious stuff, but for the most part my kids don't eat a lot of junk not because I make them it's what they ask for. What are your views on childhood obesity?

[TableforSeven]

I think I can't judge anyone from seeing them for just a short time in a restaurant.

If you had been at a salad-place instead of Taco Bell would you still have been looking around at the other people there and been judging them?

[BlessedMommyNE]

Adult obesity is seriously an epidemic. The majority of the people I see are overweight to some extent. I feel sorry for the kids that deal with these weight issues...especially when they have overweight parents who aren't passing on good eating and exercise habits and that arent having healthy food available and push the junk.

[shadow_lark]

 I often wonder how much of the "love yourself, you are perfect" movement in the past few years has affected obesity.  everyone is trying to tell their little snowflake that they ae perfect just the way they are....so you can't go about telling them that they need to lose weight, or go and run some more.  It is completely opposite of what we have been teaching them.

But I agree with a lot of other ladies that say that lack of knowledge definitly contributes.  Yes, its a poor excuse, but an excuse nonetheless.  If people arent willing to educate themselves, or are thinking that the way they are living is healthy, then there isnt a whole lot that can be done.

[Sportbominable]

Being overweight or obese is mainly from lack of exercise, overeating, and being mal-nurished. Genetics does take a part in determining natural metabolism (which can be changed), bone structure, and even food addiction. All of these things can be changed or prevented. It's not easy for everyone. My kids are all underweight and underheight for their age. They eat a lot, they eat healthy, but I also let them eat chips, cookies, and cracker snacks. My husband is 5'3" and 115 pounds, I'm 5'1" and 116 pounds. He's all muscle, but I'm not in shape so I'm a little flabby. So I guess it's a combination of genetics and lifestyle. I'm sure there are moms of obese and overweight kids on this site. Maybe they can tell us what they think.

[jellybeanjean]

I don't know what to think of it. I remember as a kid I ate a TON of crap. Loads and loads of sugar. But my parents never fed us fast food except on special occasions. I never ate boxed food until I was in my late teens and my friends showed it to me.... I also remember I was pretty much always playing outside. I was a very active kid. I was one of the most athletic girls throughout school.....participating in track and field, basketball, badminton.... I think those kids  with weight problems need to get out more. I remember feeling like freaking superwoman as a kid and teen....it was awesome.

[mom_to_kenzie]

Agree with jellybeanjean...look at how much the lifestyle has changed...I'm only 23, and yes I'm "overweight" (but working on it) and things have changed so much. We never sat around wat hing TV for hours on end or playing video games..we played outside, rode bikes, played in the pool most of the summer and had extracurriculars (cheer/dance camp) part of the time..now kids just whole up with junk food and play video games or watch TV or play on phones all day long. I think it's a learned habit, and the fact that a lot of parents just want their kids out of their hair. Not trying to be rude, but SD is a great example--shes 8 and just wants to lay around and junk and be glued to the TV..I heard "I'm bored can I watch TV (or play om the ipad)" after 5 minutes of being outside playing. Not good...

Dd is 4 and she likes junk food, and we go to mcd and she gets a coke when we go out (maybe once a week) but she chooses fruit and veggies when we're home and drinks milk or water..she also runs around and plays enough that I think it kinda cancels each other out. If dd or ds were starting to shoe that they were gaining too much weight, it'd be time for a lifestyle change for all of us..

I do understand that there are certain conditions that make gaining weight super easy (my mom had a thyroid issues that caused her to gain weight) or losing weight super hard...but I try really hard not to judge because of it.

[itsm3]

i think it's sad that children and teens are overweight.  healthy eating habits - just like any other skill - should be taught by the parents.  the kids will eat what the parents put in front of them.  if parents are overweight, why don't they change things for their kids.  perhaps they don't know how to eat properly either but it's not like it's a secret -- there are ways to learn and educate themselves about proper nutrition.  get up and start exercising with the family.

if they can afford the internet, they can surely google many ways to eat healthy and what that means.  perhaps they can't afford to buy proper food but then how come they go out and buy frozen stuff/processed stuff/fast food?  where i live, all that is way more expensive than fresh foods.  

[Kageegirl]

My oldest ds is (6) he has asthma, allergies, urticaria, eczema and pfapa. My son's medical issues make it hard for him to be active like other kids. I don't let my son sit around all day and watch tv, play video games and eat junk. He loves power rangers and through them he has been inspired to do karate. He also loves to go outside and blow bubbles, chalk with sidewalk chalk, go for walks, play hide and seek and play at the park. Some of his favorite snacks are cinnamon dusted apples, yogurt, sugar free jello, nuts of all kinds and veggies w/dip. I can't stand parents who make excuses for their childrens condition.

Quoting mom_to_kenzie:

Agree with jellybeanjean...look at how much the lifestyle has changed...I'm only 23, and yes I'm "overweight" (but working on it) and things have changed so much. We never sat around wat hing TV for hours on end or playing video games..we played outside, rode bikes, played in the pool most of the summer and had extracurriculars (cheer/dance camp) part of the time..now kids just whole up with junk food and play video games or watch TV or play on phones all day long. I think it's a learned habit, and the fact that a lot of parents just want their kids out of their hair. Not trying to be rude, but SD is a great example--shes 8 and just wants to lay around and junk and be glued to the TV..I heard "I'm bored can I watch TV (or play om the ipad)" after 5 minutes of being outside playing. Not good...



Dd is 4 and she likes junk food, and we go to mcd and she gets a coke when we go out (maybe once a week) but she chooses fruit and veggies when we're home and drinks milk or water..she also runs around and plays enough that I think it kinda cancels each other out. If dd or ds were starting to shoe that they were gaining too much weight, it'd be time for a lifestyle change for all of us..



I do understand that there are certain conditions that make gaining weight super easy (my mom had a thyroid issues that caused her to gain weight) or losing weight super hard...but I try really hard not to judge because of it.

[redneckmama4]

It's gross and truly a product of our crappy food society.

I also picture lazy parents too.

[Pnukey]

I think it's preventable. DH is overweight, so I could just have fat kids and blame genetics, but our kids are not overweight. DD even has an underactive thyroid, but she is not overweight. She is on meds for it now, but her thyroid still screws up every couple of months (yay puberty). I think it is more on what the kids are fed. We have candy almost regularly (we are currently out) but our kids love fruits and veggies. We also make them go outside to play, which they do on their own sometimes too.