Third fattest country in the world is.....

[Edwina's Secretary]

Go to Disneyland...watch the waddling children fed lots and lots of sugar treats - while paying more attention to the GameBoy in their hands than the amusement park the parents just spent a fortune to get into....

It is reassuring....

My personal favorite is to see a child of nine or ten riding in the grocery basket...this is particularly popular at Sam's or Costco - bigger baskets....

[lvpets2002]

Sorry I am sitting her chuckling at your post.. It just is so True & my thoughts to the tee..

Go to Disneyland...watch the waddling children fed lots and lots of sugar treats - while paying more attention to the GameBoy in their hands than the amusement park the parents just spent a fortune to get into....

It is reassuring....

My personal favorite is to see a child of nine or ten riding in the grocery basket...this is particularly popular at Sam's or Costco - bigger baskets....

[Randi]

Well, I don't think we're that far behind over here, you see more and more fat people, but then, compared to USA the people we call fat here are probably what you'd call normal.

It IS sad really, because if everyone didn't eat more than neccesary, there just might be enough food for everyone in the world.

OK, I'm aware that in some cases, it's the genetics, but I quite often see fat people walk around with a chocolade bar or a bag of chips.

[lvpets2002]

Well I am glad to know us Americans are noticed for something.. So glad we are number 1.. Yes I help in any way I can with my See Food Diet..

[Cataholic]

My personal favorite is to see a child of nine or ten riding in the grocery basket...

There is this young girl on my street. I have never met her, spoken to her, etc. I know her only by sight. Several years ago, she drove those little motorized cars...like a Barbie Car. She was chunky then, and I think what drew my eye to her was that she WAS chunky and riding a ride on toy, instead of a bike/big wheel, etc. Fast forward to today, she is FAT, and rides a motor scooter.

It is sad that parents allow this to happen to their children.

[lvpets2002]

Well I think most parents are too busy with work & all to pay attention.. Also parents would rather hear a quite child than have to hear a child fussen of wanting their way with food & ect.. Also some children have medical problems..

There is this young girl on my street. I have never met her, spoken to her, etc. I know her only by sight. Several years ago, she drove those little motorized cars...like a Barbie Car. She was chunky then, and I think what drew my eye to her was that she WAS chunky and riding a ride on toy, instead of a bike/big wheel, etc. Fast forward to today, she is FAT, and rides a motor scooter.

It is sad that parents allow this to happen to their children.

[pomtzu]

Well I think most parents are too busy with work & all to pay attention.. Also parents would rather hear a quite child than have to hear a child fussen of wanting their way with food & ect.. Also some children have medical problems..

Letting children have their way with food, is nothing more than a form of child abuse. Have you ever seen some of these fat kids on afternoon talk shows, like Maury or Oprah? And I mean little 3 or 5 year olds weighing close to, or over 100 lbs. And why - because the parents can't control them and feed them whatever they want, just to avoid a tantrum. Oh please!!! - if you have no more control over your child than to give them whatever they want, and whenever they want it, then you shouldn't be a parent to start with. Simply put - they are killing their own kids. If they even live long enough, they will develop mega health problems such as diabetes, heart problems, breathing problems, and of course, don't forget the ridicule and torment they will be subject to by their peers. Some of these kids can barely walk they are so huge, let alone go outside to play or ride a bike, or do other things that kids do. There's just no excuse for parents killing their kids with food, and taking away any sense of normalcy in their lives.

[lvpets2002]

I so Agree.. Also have you seen some of the parents of these children.. They are huge & also was prob raised to eat whatever just like they are letting their children do.. I used to be a kindergarden teachers aid years ago & would see kindergarden children come at 100 pounds already.. It was shocking..

Letting children have their way with food, is nothing more than a form of child abuse. Have you ever seen some of these fat kids on afternoon talk shows, like Maury or Oprah? And I mean little 3 or 5 year olds weighing close to, or over 100 lbs. And why - because the parents can't control them and feed them whatever they want, just to avoid a tantrum. Oh please!!! - if you have no more control over your child than to give them whatever they want, and whenever they want it, then you shouldn't be a parent to start with. Simply put - they are killing their own kids. If they even live long enough, they will develop mega health problems such as diabetes, heart problems, breathing problems, and of course, don't forget the ridicule and torment they will be subject to by their peers. Some of these kids can barely walk they are so huge, let alone go outside to play or ride a bike, or do other things that kids do. There's just no excuse for parents killing their kids with food, and taking away any sense of normalcy in their lives.

[Cataholic]

Well I think most parents are too busy with work & all to pay attention.. Also parents would rather hear a quite child than have to hear a child fussen of wanting their way with food & ect.. Also some children have medical problems..

I don't buy this at all. It takes no more effort to provide a child with an apple, banana, wheat toast, whatever, than it does a cookie, bag of chips, or a muffin.

This particular child that I referenced HAS parents, they are out with her, she isn't running the street or anything. I don't doubt that they are busy. But, give the child a big wheel, or a bike. No need for motorized stuff at 4, 6, 8, etc.

I wonder what the statistics are for kids with endocrine problems that cause weight gain...I would imagine it is about as low as it is with adults.

[Catherinedana]

I have to say that I don't really know what to feel about this post. I'm fat. I'm also quite active. I don't do aerobics and go to the gym, but I garden regularly, I'm renovating my house, I volunteer at the local bird sanctuary two days a week. . .I am also a fabulous cook and I like to eat. I don't sit and gorge myself with cake and ice cream and chocolate. I can't even EAT ice cream and chocolate, they make me ill.

So - am I a bad person because I'm fat? Am I hideous? Am I unloveable? I don't think so. . .hope you wouldn't just write me off without getting to know me because I am bigger than you are.
Cathy

[carole]

I don't want anyone to take this thread as a personal attack, it is just a fact,and a sad one at that, i too have been overweight, so i felt it was ok for me to post this, sorry if anyone is offended, certainly not my intention,many of us are overweight for many reasons, and it is not an easy thing to deal with, and i speak from much experience, sure i have never been obese, but it does not matter how much overweight you are, you still feel the same.

Catherinedana you sound a wonderful person,this is not directed at you,or anyone else, who has weight issues, as i pointed out i have too,being fat or thin does not make you any better or any less than anyone else, i hope this helps explain my thread to you.
The thread is more about my own country and that i am so surprised to hear this,and saddened by it too.

I have to say i agree with cataholic, i think the problem lies within the fact that junk food is cheaper to buy than healthier food, that is why lower income groups often have weight issues,well that is what i see in my country.

When i visited the US in the seventy's i had never seen so many take out places in my life, there was like this whole street of them, it was amazing, because then in NZ we had no KFC, no Pizza Hut,No wendy's,No burger King etc etc,the only take out or takeaway as we call it here was fish n chips,now we are third fattest nation , we have all of those and more, so what does that tell you.

p.s i sure had a giggle at some of your responses, i love the see food diet comment, nice upbeat, and spirited thread,sure it has it serious side too.

[pomtzu]

Some folks are just naturally heavier than others, but that doesn't make them inferior to others. A lot is in the genes, and a lot in bad habits. My son happens to be one of them. He doesn't eat a lot, but he tends to eat the wrong things and at the wrong time of day. He usually is pretty late getting home from work, and has to unwind and take a shower before he even can think about eating, so most nights he is eating too late, and then going to bed with that full stomach. His breakfast usually consists of grabbing a cup of coffee on the way out the door, so by lunchtime he is quite hungry and goes to a fast food place. So just by his habits, he has packed on too many pounds.

My problem is with the parents who feed their kids just to shut them up, or to keep them happy (their perception of course), without a single thought about how they're endangering their kid's present and future health.

[Cataholic]

Being overweight doesn't make you a better or worse person than anyone else. BUT, it does make you prone to many more diseases, illnesses, conditions, etc. It also makes it harder to find employment, clothes that fit, get life insurance, etc. If this is news to anyone, well, visit your family doctor immediately for further information.

It IS horrible that ANY adult- fat, thin or anywhere in between allows/lets/doesn't stop their child from this disease. Obesity is a disease. If I let my son lay about in the sun without protection, I would be considered a bad parent. If I let him drink pop all the time- even if he were stick thin, I would be considered a bad parent. If I let him go without sleep, or stay up til all hours of the night, I would be considered a bad parent. If I let him watch TV around the clock, I would be a bad parent.

If I let my child get FAT, I am a bad parent. Does that make me a bad person? I don't know.

[kokopup]

Eating to much is only half of the problem. The children today do nothing to get exercise. They eat to much at fast food places like McDonalds (supersized) then go home to do nothing but watch TV or play Video games. Health problems are already a huge problem with Children today and it all boils down to a bad lifestyle. The parents of these children are not much better off. I have Grandkids that fall into the No exercise Category. They Play Video games their entire waking hours. I have tried without success to get them involved in outdoor activities.

[Sonia59]

Being fat or lean is not a shame, everyone has different genes, thus metabolism. But I agree with Carole, it's a sad fact. Some kids can be fat due to metabolic issues (among others), but letting them eat chips and fat processed food instead of fruits, vegetables, etc. is not normal.