It seems more and more people want to take responsibility for eradicating childhood obesity. Few would argue that obesity is truly an epidemic and some predict it could change the definition of the term pandemic as this condition seems to have no bounds.
Although many want to be responsible for the cure (or at least help), it still seems the root cause is a mystery to some. There is no doubt that an unfortunate condition, such as disease or physical limitations may contribute to a child being overweight. Arguments can also be made that easy access to cheap, unhealthy, fast food is to blame. Others may say it is because kids spend too much time in front of a computer or television.
As common sense would dictate, if a child’s parents are responsible for providing the basics of life – food, clothing and shelter, and a child is reliant on their parents during their childhood for those needs, it would seem reasonable that the parents are responsible for that child’s food choices and caloric intake.
If a child shows up at school with no shoes, It would be easy to say that child’s parents have got to provide shoes, it’s a basic need. If they can’t afford them, they can get help from many resources in the community. The school may even see if they can find a pair of shoes for the child to wear. Surely, someone would do something and do it right away.
If a child shows up at school 30 pounds overweight, what then? Does anyone contact the school nurse? Does the school try to provide information for the student and parents on how to eat right and exercise? Does anyone call the parents in for a conference?
It is time we take the battle to the source. Parents must be held accountable for overweight and obese children. Schools should be able to treat an overweight child, at the very least, like one with no shoes. Doctors have to speak up when parents need to hear their child is overweight. Parents must educate themselves and take an active role in the child’s life.
With the first generation of young people predicted to not outlive their parents among us, we have to change tactics. Political correctness need not interfere. If there is even a slim chance it may make a positive impact, I would rather risk hurting a parent’s feelings than a child’s future.
The Facts:
Data from NHANES I (1971–1974) to NHANES 2003–2006 show increases in overweight among all age groups:
- Among preschool-aged children, aged 2–5 years, the prevalence of obesity increased from 5.0% to 12.4%.8
- Among school-aged children, aged 6–11 years, the prevalence of obesity increased from 4.0% to 17.0%.8
- Among school-aged adolescents, aged 12–19 years, the prevalence of obesity increased from 6.1% to 17.6%.8
The 2007 Tennessee Youth Risk Behavior Survey indicates that among high school students:
- 17% were obese.
- 82% ate fruits and vegetables less than five times per day during the 7 days before the survey.
- 46% drank a can, bottle, or glass of soda or pop (not including diet soda or diet pop) at least one time per day during the 7 days before the survey.
- 58% did not meet recommended levels of physical activity.
- 61% did not attend physical education classes.
- 70% did not attend physical education classes daily.
- 38% watched television 3 or more hours per day on an average school day.
- 23% played video or computer games or used a computer for something that was not school work for 3 or more hours per day on an average school day.
uberVU - social comments says:
Social comments and analytics for this post…
This post was mentioned on Twitter by Healthyeating42: Childhood obesity – Who’s to Blame? | Kids Fitness, Health & Wellness http://bit.ly/aP04tM...
14th February 2010 at 1:13 am
LindsayDianne says:
Wake Up, America. These stats are TERRIFYING.
14th February 2010 at 1:34 am
Raleigh says:
The epidemic of childhood obesity can not be blamed on one factor.. Yes, parental control of what foods are being purchased, how many times fast food is served, etc plays an important role, but so does the fact that there is less movement all around. The kids that attend the Eastport Elementary School in New York are one by one having their recess games taken away from them. They can’t play tag, they can’t throw a football or baseball around.. they can’t run, there is not a playground for the older kids to use, only the kindergarteners to 3rd grade are allowed. The rest, basically can stand in an open field. There are only a certain amount of “school approved” balls for them to use, the kids are forbidden to bring their own from home.. Why? They claim that there are too many injuries. They just recently even “outlawed” foam balls, such as the Nerf footballs.. As well, most of the time, the teachers have them doing indoor recess, claiming it is too cold outside. Excuse me, but unless it was raining, we were outside despite the temperature..
The same thing is happening in the physical education classes.. too many activites are being eliminated because kids are being injured. But it is a fact of life.. kids run around and play, and they get hurt. Sometimes it is as serious as a broken bone, sometimes it is just a bump or bruise. Not valid reasoning in my opinion to take activites away..
As well, the food choices in the school are not the best. In the quest to eliminate sugar, they are instead pumping the kids full of chemicals. Why not just install portion control with REAL food, teach the kids that food is NOT an enemy and that with moderation they can enjoy their favorite foods despite the fact that they may not be the healthiest choices.
Added to all of this, there is the onus of being weighed publically at school and having a form given to you to take home if you don’t fall into the healthy catagory. Why embarrass children this way? Why does the school need the childrens’ weight? What purpose does it serve? All this does is hammer the kid and the self esteem into a why bother type frame of mind. As well, there needs to be more to figuring out a child’s healthy BMI other than age and weight
To tackle the obesity problem, you need a multi pronged attack.. there needs to be changes made at home, there needs to be EFFECTIVE changes done in the schools, not just lip service done. Plus if all of this were to be just a PART of daily life instead of hammered into the kids, I think that there would be more results into decreasing the epidemic than increasing..
14th February 2010 at 10:29 am
Kylie Batt says:
?????????????. ??? ???? ? ?? ????. ??????? ??????? ???? ??????. ????? ??? ? PM….
Although many want to be responsible for the cure (or at least help), it still seems the root cause is a mystery to some…..
14th February 2010 at 9:45 am