Overweight children

vicmo5 · October 2009

I do not think that is the answer. Just like moose said are we going to remove a bulimic or anorexic?I don't think that's a fair comparison. Parents aren't generally responsible for making a child bulimic or anorexic. I think if a parent wasn't doing anything to help their bulimic or anorexic child the state would step in.

wadingmoose · October 2009

Oh, yeah, Stage, I'd gained weight. My waist size in pants also went up and old clothes no longer fit

wadingmoose · October 2009

PS. I actually went to school with a girl who could not cook. At all. While I can't comprehend this (it's so freakin' easy), I do understand that there are a lot of people who just can't be bothered to cook.

Nebb · October 2009

Thats very true lynda, the distance it goes plays a factor. Like alix said, some areas that have an abundance of produce and grocery stores have cheaper food. I am from one of those areas and (as i proved earlier) fail to remember sometimes that produce isnt as readily available in other areas.

tidetravel · October 2009

Nebb - there are a lot of contributing factors, but IMO, they can't just be written off to bad parenting or neglect. The culture of our society today promotes unhealthy habits. Of course you can make a cogniscent effort to not eat badly, but it is an effort. For example, a lot of inner cities have very few true grocery stores. Low income families may not have access to a grocery store w/in walking distance, and public transportation may or may not get them to where they need to go. So, their only choice is go to the local 7-11 where milk is $4.50 a gallon, as opposed to $3 in a grocery store. Or, grab a $1 burger from whatever fast food chain is down the street.Time is also a big consideration. Would people like to cook at home? Probably, but w/ 2 working parents, time may simply not be available.

lyndausvi · October 2009

It's just such a slippery slop. Who makes the call that one child is too overweight and another child is not?

jfgrad06 · October 2009

I view that as pure laziness. It takes 10 minutes to make a simple vegeterian stir-fry and 20 to bake a frozen pizza. Alixa couldn't be more correct! A bag of frozen veggies takes no time to heat up in a skillet or even the microwave. Throw in some chicken and maybe cook some rice (or once again, they have premade versions available)and you have a healthy meal. The "time" issue really gets to me too.

laladypoet · October 2009

okay, for all you "slippery slope" folks, what is YOUR solution? should the gov't stay out of it completely? should parents be allowed to cause a toddler to become obese? if you can come up with a better idea of how to solve this problem, I'm interested to hear it. cause I got nothing, and I also think the foster system is overworked as it is.

wadingmoose · October 2009

There are several eating disorders that involve overeating and weight gain. So it is a fair comparison to anorexia/bulemia.Now, if a parent is starving their child, that's another issue, but the reality is that an overly thin child won't get the attention that an obese child gets. A lot of kids are naturally very skinny. My dad was naturally chubby - he was born a chubby baby and was an obese child from pictures I saw. He certainly didn't get that way eating doritos and processed foods.

vicmo5 · October 2009

I can't think of anything easier than opening up a can of vegetables and microwaving it. Not having access to produce is a ridiculous excuse. Canned vegetables are cheap, have a long shelf life (so stocking up between grocery trips is easy) and they are often healthier than fresh produce because they are canned immediately therefore not losing nutrients.

lpstl · October 2009

I think we need to make some massive changes in our society before blaming everything on the parents. We need to stop serving absolute crap in school lunch rooms, take junk food vending machines out of the schools, and stop pulling funding from physical education programs. Parents needs to be counseled on how to replace processed food with healthy alternatives (without adversely impacting their budget). Obviously the parents with morbidly obese children have a problem, but they need more help than "do this or else" to change their lifestyles.

ndzenowski · October 2009

Just like moose said are we going to remove a bulimic or anorexic?* That is completely different. I do think a child should be removed if they are forced to starve or throw up. You should not be allowed to constantly put your child's health at risk without any consequence.

alixzafiris · October 2009

At the same time Tide, I'm sure in this day and age, near everyone has access to a Wal-Mart where food is dirt cheap (it is in Canada, at least). I pay nearly ten bucks for two chicken breasts at Loblaws but the big Wal-Mart near us has them for about half that. Same with basics like milk and bread. Same thing with corner stores here, items are more expensive at most grocery stores than they are elsewhere.And I just don't get the people who can't "be bothered" to cook. If you know how, and know it's better for you and literally takes ten freaking minutes, then do it. If you want to make yourself as unhealthy as possible, that's your choice, but I don't think that should be forced on children. The damage at such an early age that can be caused by non-nutritional diet can be irreversible.

wadingmoose · October 2009

Oh, haha Stage. Nooooo, not at all. Even at size 8, I was probably slightly underweight, but I'm just saying that it wasn't my parents that caused the weight gain. It was my bad choices when I wasn't with my family.Over the years, I've also become an expert at hiding food and eating in secret. Not like it's any big secret if you look at me.

laladypoet · October 2009

and stage, I hope you're not saying that forcing a child to eat fast food every day is the same as a parent "causing" an eating disorder. cause one is a parent saying "eat everything on your plate! you can't leave the table if you don't!" the other may be from less than desirable parenting, (a parent being too hard on a child, making rude comments, etc) but I think in most cases, a parent doesn't knowingly drive a kid to make themself throw up. it's like comparing a serial killer to an accidental homicide. though not to that extreme.

alixzafiris · October 2009

[i]We need to stop serving absolute crap in school lunch rooms, take junk food vending machines out of the schools, and stop pulling funding from physical education programs.[/i]Did you guys ever see Jamie's School Dinners with Jamie Oliver tackling the UK schools? It was fantastic.

lyndausvi · October 2009

Here a gallon of milk costs almost $8 and expires in about 4-5 days. Half gallon of OJ $5. One pineapple $8. A pack of berries $15 and only lasts a few days.Down here it is cultural also. The way the locals cook their food is an issue. They may buy the vegatables, rice and beans and chicken. But they will fry anything they can get their hands on. Then add their protion sizes are twice what they should. It's just not an easy thing to say they are being neglected.

Nebb · October 2009

Alix, I really enjoyed that jamie oliver special, I think he has had a few others as well teaching low incom families how to cook. I may be wrong though. Im in shock lynda, that things like that cost that much! Thats astounding. You definitely have a point there that it isnt neglect.

lyndausvi · October 2009

I would like to see nutrtion classes for the parents and finding out the underlying issue on why they eat so much.

tidetravel · October 2009

Alix - please find a superwalmart inside the DC beltway. They don't exist. The fact is that healthy options for urban and rural people (where access to grocery stores are limited by distance and accessability) tend to be much more expensive than those living in an area that has a multitude of grocery stores within 5 miles.

wadingmoose · October 2009

binge eating disorder is a recognized eating disorder. It causes weight gain - usually to the morbidly obese level. It's associated with low self esteem among other issues.This is why I, in my original post, suggested that the family should be required to participate in counseling before yanking the kids out and throwing them on a diet that most likely won't work, will exacerbate the emotional issues behind the eating and, in the end will result in a rebound weight gain that is extremely unhealthy.But wait. If someone's overweight, they're just fat, lazy and eating nothing but McD's. Right? Right.

laladypoet · October 2009

of course there's underlying issues. I have underlying issues with my overeating too. but I was never obese as a child. I brought a lunch with me, and my mom and dad cooked healthy meals. there's a certain point where it's not up to the child, because the child doesn't have a mind of his or her own yet. that's when the whole PARENTING thing comes into play--looking out for your kid's best interest. making sure the kid has proper hygiene. making sure the kid has proper nutrition. making sure the kid has proper rest. that's part of being a parent. jeez.

sudslover · October 2009

Many of you have excellent points. The removal of parental rights is devastating to children and should be avoided, if at all possible. The children go away from these situations of neglect and harm with a loss of self-worth because they love their parents, no matter what. These families of obese children need intervention and training, and then if changes aren't made, other family members can, hopefully, be found to support these children. I can imagine there is a lot of sadness in those families.I would love to see there be more of a focus on physical education and organized activities on the playground at the elementary school level. Unfortunately, it comes down to money.

laladypoet · October 2009

But wait. If someone's overweight, they're just fat, lazy and eating nothing but McD's. Right? Right.I'm fat. it's mainly cause I drink so much. I'm not lazy though. so no, that's not what I'm saying at all.

ndzenowski · October 2009

I 100% know that binge eating is a real eating disorder but I think that there's a difference between that and the increase in childhood obesity. Sure, some of these cases are due to eating disorders but alot of them aren't. The issue is the fact that people aren't doing anything to prevent their child from gaining more weight.. not going to the doctor, therefore they don't know or care that their child has a COE. And there doesn't always have to be a serious underlying issue. Alot of eating disordered people I know attribute their eating disorders to comments their parents made.

smokeybailey · October 2009

Tide-you took the words out of my mouth. We were at a tailgate at the Coliseum in a rather $h!tty part of LA and needed more propane. The boys set off in search of propane but could not find anything within walking distance. They ended up hitching a ride from a crazy dude in an old Buick Regal but that's another story.My point is-they passed plenty of fast food places with $1 tacos, burgers or chinese food. They passed 7-11's and gas station quickie marts. No grocery stores. No fresh veggies. No Walmart. Nothing. This is a problem in depressed areas of Southern California at least. I agree that everyone should be eating better but when you just finished a double shift cleaning houses or working on a line and your bus drops you off in front of Popeye's, you can bet your @$$ that you are probably picking up a bucket of chicken.But I digress, yes, someone should step in when a child is morbidly obese and help should be offered. It will help him both physically and mentally. Also, I'd like to note that if he gets healthy NOW, he costs the system a lot less in the future....

lyndausvi · October 2009

There is always an underlying issue behind eatting disorders.Sometimes it truly is poor parenting.Other times it's genentics. Still other times it based on culture. The parents might have grown up poor with little food and want to make sure the child does not go hungry. It could be the way they cook the food (lots of fried fatty food. )It could be protion sizes. I know some families who eat huge protions of food.Sometimes it's a combinations of things. Large protions coupled with slow genetics. Once you find out the underlying issues, they can be taken care of. I do not think removing them should be the first response.

laladypoet · October 2009

also, there's a huge RISE in childhood obesity. what is that linked to? certainly binge-eating has been around for a long time. same with thyroid disorders.

laladypoet · October 2009

I do not think removing them should be the first response.dude, I don't think ANYONE in this thread said it should be the first response. l2read.

ndzenowski · October 2009

When I said underlying issue, I meant a psychological issue. People are assuming that forcing a child to eat everything on his/her plate isn't the same as forcing a child to be thin. You don't have to be an emotional eater to be a compulsive over eater. Sometimes that behavior is learned.

Overweight children

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