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Well, that's true...you can't always control what your kids do once they are free to roam outside the house.
But the number of severely obese 2 to 10 year olds I see on a daily basis aren't going off and spending time by themselves at the mall's Cinnabun.
And if you saw the parents hand the kids the cigarettes and light them, you'd think something unpleasant, I'm sure.
But kids do eat when their parents do not know they are eating. My son is 11 and he is home alone sometimes. Or he can grab food when I am not in the kitchen.
Not all kids get fat on McDonalds and Doritos. My kids don't even like McDonalds, yet my youngest is chubby. You won't see any Doritos or ice cream at my house. We don't have a single cookie in the house.
Anorexia is a mental illness. You can't blame the parent for that. You can blame the parent who buys their kid nothing but junk food and lets them play video games all day.
While the child having anorexia may not be abuse on the child from the parents, since they can not control the chemicals of the brain, but if the parents do nothing to seek proper help for that child, it is neglect.
While the child having anorexia may not be abuse on the child from the parents, since they can not control the chemicals of the brain, but if the parents do nothing to seek proper help for that child, it is neglect.
But you can't tell that unless you actually KNOW the person and the situation. Same with an overweight child. Or a child who has depression or any other issue. You just can't always tell that from looking at a person.
It's true that children don't always become overweight from junk food. My one nephew is about 30 pounds overweight, and his parents by all organic food. He just eats too much, too many helpings.
But you can't tell that unless you actually KNOW the person and the situation. Same with an overweight child. Or a child who has depression or any other issue. You just can't always tell that from looking at a person.
But with an overweight child there is no doubt about it that it could of been prevented.
Anorexia yes many of times it isnt known until it is too late, but typically one can tell if they are on the road to recovery or not.
When I see overweight kids I feel sorry for them because obesity is linked to so many health problems and because overweight kids are more likely to be picked on than thin kids.
I live in an area where about 25 percent of the population receives Food Stamps. One thing I've noticed is that poorer people, especially if they are overweight, tend to fill their grocery carts with a lot of starchy and processed food. Maybe they believe it's more filling or maybe they are less educated and don't understand the basics of good nutrition.
I don't think it's necessarily more expensive to eat healthy (unless you buy mostly organic foods, of course). You can purchase a box of whole-grain pasta for $1 and a jar of marinara sauce for $1.50. Add some fresh produce ($1/lb this time of year) and you have a healthy meal. Or, buy a canister of old-fashioned oatmeal for $2.50 and a box of raisins for another $2 and you can have a healthy breakfast all week. You can also garden to save money and our town has a community garden with free plots for anyone willing to tend them.
The childhodd obesity epidemic is very scary. Some states like Miss. have 50 percent childhood obesity rates while many others have rates of 25 to 35 percent. Our health care costs will continue to skyrocket if this is not addressed.
Keep in mind that not everyone has access to affordable, healthy food; it's been a long time since I've seen a box of pasta for $1, for example. I'm sure I could find a box somewhere around here if I looked hard enough or cut coupons or watched the sale ads, but many people don't have that kind of time. And many people who live in the poorest neighborhoods have the least access to quality food or cheap food: they're stuck paying higher prices for junk food. I'm sure in many cases poor food choices do come down to lack of education or other factors, but don't forget the financial component in all of this: unhealthy food is often cheaper. And the highly processed unhealthy food doesn't take as much time to prepare, which is undoubtedly a major plus for many time-pressed families struggling to get by. There are so many factors at play here. It's easier for wealthier families to buy healthier food, although of course many of us, regardless of income level, still have a tough time balancing the need for healthy but convenient. (although if you have enough money to spend, it gets very easy: I'm too cheap to regularly buy the pre-sliced fruit in the grocery store, for example, but it would certainly make life a lot easier!)
And many people who live in the poorest neighborhoods have the least access to quality food or cheap food: they're stuck paying higher prices for junk food.
Good points. Michele Obama is attempting to address this issue through her Campaign to End Childhood Obesity. She is working on incentive plans to bring grocery stores with healthier options such as fresh produce to inner city areas. Hopefully, it will make a difference.
When I see overweight kids I feel sorry for them because obesity is linked to so many health problems and because overweight kids are more likely to be picked on than thin kids.
I live in an area where about 25 percent of the population receives Food Stamps. One thing I've noticed is that poorer people, especially if they are overweight, tend to fill their grocery carts with a lot of starchy and processed food. Maybe they believe it's more filling or maybe they are less educated and don't understand the basics of good nutrition.
I don't think it's necessarily more expensive to eat healthy (unless you buy mostly organic foods, of course). You can purchase a box of whole-grain pasta for $1 and a jar of marinara sauce for $1.50. Add some fresh produce ($1/lb this time of year) and you have a healthy meal. Or, buy a canister of old-fashioned oatmeal for $2.50 and a box of raisins for another $2 and you can have a healthy breakfast all week. You can also garden to save money and our town has a community garden with free plots for anyone willing to tend them.
The childhodd obesity epidemic is very scary. Some states like Miss. have 50 percent childhood obesity rates while many others have rates of 25 to 35 percent. Our health care costs will continue to skyrocket if this is not addressed.
1. Where do you live where whole wheat pasta costs $1 and marinara sauce $1.50? We don't have those low prices here in FL.
2. Whole wheat pasta is just as caloric as white pasta.
But kids do eat when their parents do not know they are eating. My son is 11 and he is home alone sometimes. Or he can grab food when I am not in the kitchen.
Not all kids get fat on McDonalds and Doritos. My kids don't even like McDonalds, yet my youngest is chubby. You won't see any Doritos or ice cream at my house. We don't have a single cookie in the house.
Yes I know. They get fat because they are consuming more calories than they are burning.
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