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What about the underweight kids? Are we going to go around to all the anorexic teen girls and take them away from their families because their parents aren't responsible enough to make them eat? Did the government ever think that maybe fat people are fat because they cannot afford good nutritious food? Maybe these fat people have to work long hours to afford health care for their kids that by the time they come home they're so worn out they don't have the energy to cook and rely on convenience foods? Or did the government ever thing that NCLB has made it extremely difficult to fit in PE time because the kids are too busy taking tests? Nope, just blame mom. Its always mom's fault.
Actually the lack of access to and affordability of nutritious foods is a big problem amongst the poor that needs to be addressed, I agree. I think this is one of the myriad of issues that needs to be examined & dealt with b/c A) our tax dollars are paying to deal with crisis health situations more & more amongst the impoverished who cannot access or afford to eat a healthy diet (which is causing said radical health problems B) corporations should not be allowed to sell such a diminished quality of food (which has declined quite a bit over the years) to people. The will attempt to get away with whatever the can to maximize profits; it is not their job to help, assist, protect or look out for their consumers. It is the citizenry's job to look out for itself which we technically do by electing advocates to examine issues like this through a process.
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Originally Posted by momlady530
What about the underweight kids? Are we going to go around to all the anorexic teen girls and take them away from their families because their parents aren't responsible enough to make them eat? Did the government ever think that maybe fat people are fat because they cannot afford good nutritious food? Maybe these fat people have to work long hours to afford health care for their kids that by the time they come home they're so worn out they don't have the energy to cook and rely on convenience foods? Or did the government ever thing that NCLB has made it extremely difficult to fit in PE time because the kids are too busy taking tests? Nope, just blame mom. Its always mom's fault.
This type of advertising is actually very controversial as it is specifically aimed to target children and their inability to reason things the same as adults. The concept behind the marketing campaigns are based on what the campaigns the tobacco companies used (until they were made illegal).
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Originally Posted by kensgirl
As a parent of 2 kids, I try hard to make sure they are eating as healthy as possible. I also have a child who will eat pasta until the cows come home, but it's a struggle to get her to eat meat. It can be very upsetting, as Jeannie216 says. You feel like the ogre.
One thing I find really hard to deal with is product placement in TV and movies. You have Disney doing cross merchandising with McDonald's for the newest kid's film. Of course the kids want to go to McDonald's and get the toy. TV and movies show kids eating junk food and drinking soda - isn't that cool? Why don't they show the kids munching on veggies and drinking water or milk instead? Product placement is great target marketing for the food companies. And our kids are the target market.
One thing I find really hard to deal with is product placement in TV and movies. You have Disney doing cross merchandising with McDonald's for the newest kid's film. Of course the kids want to go to McDonald's and get the toy. TV and movies show kids eating junk food and drinking soda - isn't that cool? Why don't they show the kids munching on veggies and drinking water or milk instead? Product placement is great target marketing for the food companies. And our kids are the target market.
My neighbors across the street don't have tvs for their kids to watch. It's not a bad idea. So much of what comes across the television is advertising, commercialism, and brainwashing. Over the years, it turns children into cows who follow the herd. They forget who they are and only think, do, and eat what the big corporations want them to.
Did the government ever think that maybe fat people are fat because they cannot afford good nutritious food? Maybe these fat people have to work long hours to afford health care for their kids that by the time they come home they're so worn out they don't have the energy to cook and rely on convenience foods? Or did the government ever thing that NCLB has made it extremely difficult to fit in PE time because the kids are too busy taking tests? Nope, just blame mom. Its always mom's fault.
Momlady, interesting point.
If this were the case, however, I would ask: Were children fat at any other time in history? Certainly during the Depression, people struggled for money. Obesity was not an issue then. Nor is it as much of an issue in developing countries.
So what has changed? What is different with our country?
I have some thoughts: Television, Computers, Sugar, and Advertising.
If this were the case, however, I would ask: Were children fat at any other time in history? Certainly during the Depression, people struggled for money. Obesity was not an issue then. Nor is it as much of an issue in developing countries.
So what has changed? What is different with our country?
I have some thoughts: Television, Computers, Sugar, and Advertising.
# # #
You are absolutely right. Kids back in the depression had to work for their food. The population was still mostly rural. Kids had to help raise the animals and dig their food. Now our kids have a sedentary lifestyle. Most people live in cities or suburbs. Food is just a trip to the grocery store away.
But, I still stand by what I said. Kids in developing countries are not overweight because they are often on the brink of starvation. Same with kids during the depression. But, those kids had access to fresh foods. Poor kids today don't. They can't grow their own foods in the city or suburbs. And I can assure you neighbors would flip out if they had a cow or chickens out in the back yard so have access to meat not pumped up with hormones that likely contribute to being overweight. So if the government wants to attack the issue of obesity in children, they need to start with the outrageous costs of health care, include fresh fruits and veggies in WIC and foodstamp programs, and require more physical activity in schools.
My neighbors across the street don't have tvs for their kids to watch. It's not a bad idea. So much of what comes across the television is advertising, commercialism, and brainwashing. Over the years, it turns children into cows who follow the herd. They forget who they are and only think, do, and eat what the big corporations want them to.
# # #
Actually, we don't have television at my house. I'm in a rural area, and chose NOT to have satellite, so my kids don't watch. However, they do still have classmates who do! It's trickle down advertisement.
The food being produced has changed drastically (decreased quality) since the depression. So we are not consuming the same type of food as back then, which means that people who could afford to buy food were consuming much healthier options. I think that is what people don't realize about today; an older relative criticized my father for eating so healthy as though it was strange he wasn't buying & consuming whatever from the supermarket. He wisely pointed out to them that 40 - 60 years ago the food they were eating that was the norm to purchase was much closer in quality to what he was eating today but had to go out of his way to buy.
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Originally Posted by carrot juice
Momlady, interesting point.
If this were the case, however, I would ask: Were children fat at any other time in history? Certainly during the Depression, people struggled for money. Obesity was not an issue then. Nor is it as much of an issue in developing countries.
So what has changed? What is different with our country?
I have some thoughts: Television, Computers, Sugar, and Advertising.
I just wanted to relate this. My 2nd cousin was born obese. Her mom is tall and slender and her dad is a short, stout man who is not overweight at all and yet she was born that way. Her mom is my 1st cousin and I was told that there was a gene on my 1st cousins father's side( no blood relation) where many are obese like her from birth till death. My cousin when a child was made fun of so badly and no one could believe that her mother was this 5'7 120 pound woman.. it hurt her so badly. She never ate lunch at school when she was in elementary because she thought if she didn't eat, she would lose weight. She also did not like to eat in front of children because they made fun of her when she did. My 1st cousin was always doing what she could for her and gave her good, healthy food to eat too.. she never really gave in to eating badly.. as a result of her appearance, she has no self esteem. To this day she doesn't feel comfortable eating out too. Even if it is a salad, if she opens her mouth to take a bite, she feels like everyone is looking at her. She is around 275 at 5'5. I can still remember how she would do excercise, be very active and still she just could not be a slim girl.
I know that this is not the NORM but it was her NORM.. I wish I knew more that I could help her.. just wanted to relate that if you see a child out who is morbidly obese, it isn't normal and more than likely it isn't going to be food that is the issue. It has to do with metobolism.
Oh also, just as I am writing. I remember a little girl who had to take steriods for a disease that she had to endure. She was so bloated and probably weighed around 100 pounds for 5 years old. Pretty girl she was and you knew it wasn't normal.. it was truly the steriods that she was on that gave her that appearance. I believe it was for cancer.
Finally too, when my daughter was 8, she went from 57 to 89 pounds in a matter of 6 months. She was so active too, going out to the pool swimming and running.. I was so worried because the amount of food she was eating wasn't adding up to how much weight she was gaining.. I found out after much research that my daughter was going through the early side of normal puberty.. I read that all the steriods, antibotics that are found in the food supply is probably what caused her to go through it so soon especially since NO FEMALE on either side of our families ever started going through puberty.. I was 10 when I started developing and around 12 when I got my menses. Her grandmothers much later. I was told too because she was so early in starting to develop, it was why she gained so much weight. She wasn't growing taller, just out.
I am a big girl now.. after having my kiddos... A constant struggle and have just given up on dieting. Nothing worked, even when I did Jenny Craig faithfully with just a 1/4 pound weight loss a week . I will be going a medical route to see if I have Cushings Syndrome. I had the pe coach write me a letter when my daughter was going through this and tell me I needed to have a better eating plan at home for THE WHOLE family. Hello, my husband is 5'11 and weighs around 190-195 and my son was underweight... She had only seen me at school and she never ever probaly saw what i sent to school which was always 1 fruit, 1serving of a green vegetable, complex carb, protein and bottled water. I wrote her back and told her if she wanted too, to call the pediatrician and talk to them about it, be my guest.. I had already been, very concerned and nothing really concrete given to me except to understand that we all can't be skinny, we are all are different,which I liked hearing the doctor say.
I think what is important is to not judge parents who are obese and who have obese children. Don't make assumptions if you see a child who is morbidly obese and assume it has everything to do with diet.. it could be children who are like my 2nd cousin who didn't shovel in food on a constant basis to be obese...
My daughter today is around the 60th percentile for weight and has steadly stayed that for the last 2 years which is very good. She isn't overweight on a range they gave me. I still pack her the same lunch the same I did for her in 2nd grade. I switched to doing organic in dairy and meat products. I believe that is what helped her not go through a menses sooner than what she did.
Last edited by stargazer; 03-03-2008 at 09:33 PM..
Of course parents should be responsible for their children's health and weight. And maybe your son won't eat broccoli, but there are other veggies out there. If he is a carb addict, then keep the unhealthy carbs out of the house. How many of these overweight kids are only eating fruits, veggies, whole wheat carbs, low fat dairy and no junk food?
We all have tvs, and I taught my daughter at a very young age what advertising was about, and now she laughs and rolls her eyes when she sees a Mcdonalds or Oreos commercial, because she can see through it and the message. Again, parents act like they are defensiveless. If you teach your kids the difference between healthy food and junk and truth and advertising then they will be healthier and more conscious consumers.
Again, stop blaming it on tv, advertisers, commercials. This is your job to teach your children better. My child is not brainwashed and has never asked me to go to Mcdonalds. She eats only whole wheat pasta, bread, and grains.
If children were better educated we would not have this problem.
Correction:
If parents were better educated we would not have this problem.
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