I hope this helps the child obesity issues.

[finn's mom]

I think every little bit helps. Baby steps. It's going to take a lot more than that to stop the childhood obesity epidemic, obviously, but I don't see how it can hurt.

[Catty1]

It's a part of the solution, anyway. Short of a boycott of all the junk stuff.

And parents should be changing their own lifestyle habits...that's the best way to change a child's health.

I battled overweight all my life - my mom was healthy, but I followed in my dad's "foodsteps". It was a hard training to overcome...ironically, it was easier for longer after he died...though I would gladly have another 30 pounds if I could have my dad back.

He smartened up after a mild heart attack at 62.

[IRescue452]

Behavior is only part of obesity. Why don't people get this through their heads?

I have three obese mice, American brindles carrying the red gene. American mice average 40g at adulthood and these mice are 70g. Do you know why? Because all three carry the well-known gene for obesity. The obesity gene is carried with the red coat gene of mice. It can be controlled by breeding out the gene alltogether, but once a mouse carries it, it will be obese. The mice can run all day on a wheel and eat a limited diet, and still they are obese.

Scientists have isolated such obesity genes in mice and rats, but nobody will even look at that as an explanation for humans.

I see people who eat nothing but junk food and watch hours of tv that are thin. And people who eat fast food several times a week who are thin. And I also see people who exercise, who eat right, and do everything "right" and are fat.

There's more to it than a few grams of sugar.

If people are so obsessed about being thin and having thin children, we can test the embryos and selectively abort kids who are going to be fat. Trust me, scientists could determine that pretty darn accurately if it weren't a moral issue.

[Catty1]

I read a number of years ago that genetic factors in human obesity accounted for about 5% of the population. That can be a pretty significant number.

It seems that in the last several years, the rate of obesity is increasing. Can that be attributed purely to genetic reasons?

Junk food and fast food are unhealthy for slim people too. Slim does NOT mean healthy. Crappy food is crappy food.

When I started substituting the concept of 'healthy' as opposed to 'thin', the picture got bigger and life became a bit easier.

[IRescue452]

I don't see how obesity can be increasing when the average size keeps going down. Compare current times to centuries ago. Maybe there was a lull in obesity due to some outside factor and now its picking back up to normal. who knows?

[columbine]

I don't see how obesity can be increasing when the average size keeps going down.

It's also a recognized marketing strategy.

Love, Columbine

[Lady's Human]

What happened to parents saying "no"?

Or paying attention to diets?

Oops, sorry, that would be asking people to be responsible for their own shortcomings, and then trial lawyers would be out of business.

[Marigold2]

I was at a bridal shower last year that was held outdoors on my friend's dairy farm. The bridesmaids were all fat and I do mean fat, over 200 pounds each. One girl had to be close to 300 pounds, she had a toddler with her. This child was playing with a beaded necklace and at one point she dropped it by my feet. I watched as she tried to pick it out but was to darn fat to do so.
A woman at the next table picked it up. It took ALL of my willpower to not go up to that fat 300 pound tub of lard mother and say " If you want to be a cow that is fine but making your three year old that fat is child abuse. I was so angry and was so disgusted. This poor kid. How can any mother do that?
Poor kid couldn't bend down. Oh it makes my blood boil now to think of it.
Parents have control over what their kids put into their mouths, and control over the amount of physical exercise they get. Take them swimming, to the park, camping, horseback riding, get a bike, jog, play baseball, football, soccer, basketball. Making your child obese is child abuse and those children need to be taken out of the homes or some form of therapy needs to be applied. The medical issues these kids face are horrible.

[wombat2u2004]

Yes, while I do believe that genetics are involved to an extent, I think the main reason for obesity is lifestyle.....a sign of the times perhaps.
Wom

[wombat2u2004]

that would be asking people to be responsible for their own shortcomings.

Thats a big call in this day and age mate.
Wom

[Roxyluvsme13]

I'm pretty sure my obesity issues are genetic. I can eat right, exercise, and continuously diet (healthily of course), and I don't lose a single pound..

Of course I also blame it on my mom for the continuous fast food in and out of our door.

Anyways.. maybe these kids won't have to grow up with the torture and torment from others and can be healthy..

[jennielynn1970]

What happened to parents saying "no"?


Oops, sorry, that would be asking people to be responsible for "themselves"(my word, not LH's)

Do you know how many teachers ask this very same question about the parents of the children they teach?!

Your child did poorly on this test, it seems as though he went home and didn't study a stitch. Did he go over this with you at all at home, mom and dad of fictitious student?
"Our son study at home? Home time is for relaxing and family time. We don't believe in homework."

Change up to many schools doing "homeowork" in school (called Ramp Up Program for afterschool or before school) so that parents aren't involved at all, and have no responsibility over their child's education.

Same with food.

Why have breakfast at home. School should provide it. Now, granted many at risk areas REALLY DO need this program (it is state/federal funded to go along with the free/reduced lunch programs with school). Thing is, I see many more kids who get FREE lunch and breakfast, take the ENTIRE meal, eat next to none of it, and throw it away. Whereas the kids on reduces who do have to pay, are scrounging to get the change for breakfast cause they are hungry, can only get a banana and a juice or something, and they are really hungry. Kids who don't qualify for free or reduced can also get breakfast, but have to pay the entire price. They also eat what they buy. Many times it's the kids who are falling through the cracks who aren't on Free lunch, but have just enough to be on reduced lunch, and yet they they still go hungry.

The janitor on duty does keep a table open up by the trash cans to put any food that is still wrapped or milks that are unopened etc... so that they are up for grabs for anyone who is still hungry so they can get them and eat them for free. Some of those growing boys in 7th and 8th grades could eat 5 bagels, 2 juices and an apple and an orange some mornings. You never know what these kids come from.

Our school is already on the bandwagon for the healthy food. The kids aren't too happy, but I'm not complaining. I can get yoghurt with fresh berries and fruits in the fall and summer/spring areas, the head cook down there makes some really good meals that aren't "presupplied" and they are yummy and healthy and not too expensive, even for us teachers. I can get a HUGE garden salad, with sliced chicken on the side, a roll and home made raspberry vinegrette dressing for $1.50 if you get the nice lunch ladies. Sometimes they'll throw in a PowerAde to go with it. I don't think I've ever had a lunch over $3.50, and that was even for a chicken bacon ranch wrap and a spinach, toasted pecan, fresh strawberry, mandarin orange and other little greens in the salad with a lime dressing over it.

And this was at school. I am amazed!

[jackie]

Behavior is only part of obesity. Why don't people get this through their heads?

I have three obese mice, American brindles carrying the red gene. American mice average 40g at adulthood and these mice are 70g. Do you know why? Because all three carry the well-known gene for obesity. The obesity gene is carried with the red coat gene of mice. It can be controlled by breeding out the gene alltogether, but once a mouse carries it, it will be obese. The mice can run all day on a wheel and eat a limited diet, and still they are obese.

Scientists have isolated such obesity genes in mice and rats, but nobody will even look at that as an explanation for humans.

I see people who eat nothing but junk food and watch hours of tv that are thin. And people who eat fast food several times a week who are thin. And I also see people who exercise, who eat right, and do everything "right" and are fat.

There's more to it than a few grams of sugar.

If people are so obsessed about being thin and having thin children, we can test the embryos and selectively abort kids who are going to be fat. Trust me, scientists could determine that pretty darn accurately if it weren't a moral issue.

Yes, some people are genetically inclined to be overweight, but not such a large percentage of the population. Almost every overweight person I know complains of a slow metabolism or genetics, then I sit and watch them suck back 2 red bulls, or a "healthy" salad loaded with cheese, ham, and dressing. People need to start taking control of their lives and waistlines.

I feel so much pity for children who have no choice but to eat what their parents put in front of them, grow up not knowing basic nutrition, and have their health compromised.

[Catlady711]

I don't see how not putting a cartoon on a box of cereal is going to change obesity at all.

For one thing if people didn't have such sedentary lives and spend waaaaay too much time watching tv they wouldn't be seeing so many ads in the first place and they'd be healthier for getting out of the house.

For another thing I'm not one that is much influenced by ads of any kind, they just tick me off by interrupting my movies, filling up half my $4.50 magazine that should have cost half that, and most of them just plain don't make sense anymore and are stupid.

Actually I'm LESS likely to buy a product that advertizes heavily. And don't even get me started on drug companies advertizing their drugs on tv to get you to bully your dr. into prescribing their product!!

I look at my neighborhood around me and see several nice playgrounds that are never used because...
1) parents are too lazy/selfish themselves to take their children there to play.
2) the kids are not taught respect for property and so can't be trusted away from the home so they let them play LITERALLY in the middle of my street!

When I was a kid my mom would let me watch x amount of tv on Saturdays before shutting it off and making me go outside 'for some fresh air' and play time. I was not allowed to watch tv after a certain time at night and only x amount of tv per day. We had one tv and it was not in anyone's bedroom either. I was allowed far more time outside to play, mom took me to the park and library regularly (by walking not driving) and we frequently went on walks or bike rides together even in the winter!

Now-a-days (makes me feel old to say it that way) kids are TOLD to 'go watch tv' or given their own tv's/computers just to get them out of the parents hair and be quiet for hours on end. If anyone wants to truely fight childhood obesity THAT is where they should start, not whether or not there's a cartoon rabbit advertizing a cereal! JMHO

[mruffruff]

Hear, Hear! I have to agree with what Catlady711 said. All of it!