Fatty Fat Fat Fat Kids

[mayorofawesometown]

This topic of discussion peaked my interest so I thought it'd be fun to ask everyone else. What topics need to be addressed when it comes to the issue of childhood obesity?

I agreed with the guys when they said that it all starts at home. Parents should be feeding their kids a healthy diet and getting them to exercise. That being said, I thought they totally missed the mark when they said the campaign to get restaurants to serve better food was a waste of time.

I know that when I was a kid I picked from what was offered to me and that's how I developed my pallet. When the only choices are fat, fat, or more fat then that becomes a real stumbling block. On top of that, let's not forget about the public schools who serve garbage and kids have to eat that at least 5 times a week!

In my opinion, the guys went a little overboard with their typical beliefs (which I usually enjoy) about personal responsibility. It's kind of a not being able to see the forest for the trees situation. Parents are ultimately responsible but that doesn't mean there isn't a lot of merit to changing the environment kids are put into once they leave the house.

So yeah, as a fatty who has recently started to exercise and shed a few pounds I'm saying both are very important issues that need to be addressed.

[Queenie]

Eating habits are taught to children at a very young age by their parents. If a child under the age of say 15 is obese, I think it is totally the parents fault (unless there is some underlying medical condition). Restaurants are in business to make money. It's not like children have a lot of their own money to eat at fast food joints. It is a parents option (and money) as to whether or not they do so. I think the biggest problem with children who are obese today is that their parents are too lazy to fix their meals and taking to McDonald's is an easy out.
//end rant//

[Howie Feltersnatch]

My kids are slim because they don't play video games (they watch me play) and don't eat shitty food very often. If it's been a long night of cubscouts and soccer we may stop at Mc D's for a happy meal, but they get milk no pop and apples not fries (again i get the coke and fries). Granted those two options are because the restraunts came on board, but I beleive it is because my wife and I don't eat out every night and make good choices when eating at home.

Eating healthy isn't as cheap as eating shitty fastfood, but i can grow a garden in my yard for pretty cheap, and because of my garden we had fresh zuccini, tomatoes, peppers, and beans at nearly every meal this summer.

Parents need to be the one making the choices and get off their fat lazy asses instead of waiting for the government to mandate they get healthy and do the exercising for them.

[Allyson]

Fat [excluding baby fat] kids are a direct result of their parents. I can say that because I don't have kids.

I don't know that restaurants can necessarily be blamed for obesity, but they sure are a contributing factor. Come on, you can't make any delicious, reasonably-portioned food? There are very few options for those of us who try to restrict our meals to under 1000 calories.

[schuyler]

I agree that the parents are a big part of it but I honestly don't think it's an issue that the Government should be concerned with

[Howie Feltersnatch]

I blame popsicles.

[mayorofawesometown]

You know you're fat when the girth eats your eyes to the point where you appear Asian.

[potthole]

Parents.

A point was made about school lunches not being healthy. A parent can send a healthy lunch to school with their kid, rather than have them eat the junk the school serves. Heck, that would provide a great learning opportunity for the kid-- have them help make the lunch, to help them learn about healthy eating.

[Howie Feltersnatch]

Sept 15, 2010 11:00:07 GMT -5 potthole said:

Heck, that would provide a great learning opportunity for the kid--

I'm a parent in the US, I shouldn't be:

1) Held responsable for my kid
2) Required to discipline my kid
3) Required to teach my kid

[mayorofawesometown]

Sept 15, 2010 11:00:07 GMT -5 potthole said:

Parents.

A point was made about school lunches not being healthy. A parent can send a healthy lunch to school with their kid, rather than have them eat the junk the school serves. Heck, that would provide a great learning opportunity for the kid-- have them help make the lunch, to help them learn about healthy eating.

Good point. But don't forget that some low income families get free or reduced rate breakfast and lunch for their kids. I don't want to say they HAVE to make their kids eat that garbage but when every penny counts some families have to unfortunately make the choice between healthy food or essentials like clothes/utilities/etc.

[potthole]

Sept 15, 2010 13:54:14 GMT -5 mayorofawesometown said:

Good point. But don't forget that some low income families get free or reduced rate breakfast and lunch for their kids. I don't want to say they HAVE to make their kids eat that garbage but when every penny counts some families have to unfortunately make the choice between healthy food or essentials like clothes/utilities/etc.

And that's a very valid point to bring up. In a situation like that I would say the family should at least try to send a healthy lunch to school at least a couple days a week. That way things are easier on the budget, but you still are giving you child a wholesome meal more often than not. Take advantage of that free school meal maybe twice a week only.

[Fuck Bill Simonson]

Sept 15, 2010 11:34:27 GMT -5 Howie Feltersnatch said:

I'm a parent in the US, I shouldn't be:

1) Held responsable for my kid
2) Required to discipline my kid
3) Required to teach my kid

...and you aren't allowed to spank your kids either. Your monkey on the other hand.....