Opinions on childhood obesity...

I'm going on 67. Childhood obesity today is totally appalling. However, it's easy to blame the parents. Here's what is different from When I was growing up: There are no gym periods in schools these days, not to mention gym teachers. When I went to grammar school, we had two recess periods and lunch. We were expected to play outside. I played tether ball whenever I could - there was always a line of girls waiting to play. We jumped double dutch. There were hula hoops and yoyos and paddle balls. When I got home I did NOT do two hours of homework. How crazy is it to demand two hours of young kids who really need to play. They've just spent six hours in school. Is the teacher that lazy that she/he can't get the lessons across? When I got home, I'd change and go out to join the neighborhood kids in a game of stick ball. The sewers were our bases. We ran a lot. We biked, we built forts on empty lots. I climbed trees. What I see these days is that kids play too many video games, they don't get enough exercise at school, or else they're overscheduled with swim meets, and other structured activities. We've taken the fun out of play. I can relate to fat kids too. My brother was fat all the way through grammar school, although not obese. He was teased mercilessly, since fat kids were not the norm in those days. When he got to junior high he started weight training like mad and slimmed down considerably. He's still slim at 65. My parents were on the stout side, but they were also old. I had the oldest mother in my grammar school. She was in her early fifties. Finally, growing up we were never bombarded with food ads on TV morning, noon and night. Candy and ice cream were a once a week treat. We didn't toss bottles and cans onto the street because they were worth 5 cents each. I'd return a bottle and buy a piece gum. Don't discount all those food ads. I've found myself wanting to drive to Wendy's when I see a late night ad. We also have access to food 24/7 in every store I can think of, including nearly all gas stations. And here's the really scary thing for parents of pre-teens. We are also bombarded by drug company ads 24/7 on TV. Then we wonder why our children abuse prescription drugs. We seem to operate on the slogan "there's an app (drug) for that". I was bombarded with cigarette ads on TV growing up and it did have an effect. In high school it was cool to smoke. I quit in my thirties only after I'd seen three people die within three to six months after getting lung cancer. All were smokers.

I'm going to take a wild guess here and say that you started long before me there bucko. I dont have 100+ pounds to lose, I was never that fat. I have another ten and I am done. And I know perfectly well why it is dragging its *kitten* to get there, because I am slacking off.

Another wild guess: sound like Hitler would be more of a fun father then you. Sure your kids arent fat, but *kitten* son, ever think that maybe they wanted to get home and have a relax for once? Not get forced out to exercise?

No!
You just clearly characterized the failure mentality of parents who can't take responsibility.
To some, parenting is about being popular.
Go ahead; such kids raised by such parents will be shining our shoes.:drinker:

You've lost a significant amount of weight, that is awesome.

Now are you saying that I am going to be a soft parent with fat kids? Yeah pretty sure I'm not, because I do have a backbone and I dont want fat kids. Simple.

You can get off your high horse now. You are wonder dad. Well done. Your certificate and medal are in the mail.

[\quote]

If you're such an ambassador for healthy living, how did you get overweight?

MyFitnessPal Site-wide Community Guidelines

1. No Attacks or Insults and No Reciprocation
a) Do not attack, mock, or otherwise insult others. You can respectfully disagree with the message or topic, but you cannot attack the messenger. This includes attacks against the user’s spelling or command of written English, or belittling a user for posting a duplicate topic.

It was an honest question. I wasnt attacking him. Genuinely wanted to know how it happened.[\quote]

If you treat your child like a victim of circumstance, they will become that victim. Is that what you want? Don't teach your kid to accept their crappy life (it's OKAY to be fat...), teach them to take control and CHANGE IT.

There have been so many posts about making sure you are delicate with children about their weight and make sure their little feelings aren't hurt... no wonder kids feel trapped in their fat little bodies! They have adults telling them on the one hand what they should eat and how to exercise, and on the other hand telling them that they're perfect just the way they are (50 pounds overweight).

TALK to your kid about their health and weight! Ask them if they know any fat kids and how they are treated at school. Make sure they understand that while their worth isn't totally dependent on their appearance, they should always strive to be the best they can possibly be in every way. Give them the tools to succeed so they can be proud of themselves instead of drowning in their own unhappiness. Don't let them be victims. Make them own their mistakes, and own up to yours.

God no wonder kids are depressed little ****s nowadays. Parents are coddling them to death and denying them the feeling of TRUE ACCOMPLISHMENT. Obviously don't be mean to your kids but stop worrying about their delicate psyches!

My mom and doctor talked to me about my weight once, and all it did was make me feel bad. Even when a doctor just asked me about my acne, it made me feel horrible. And while it did make me WISH I was skinnier and prettier and everything, I had no motivation to do anything about it. It wasn't until after I started feeling really good about myself that I actually started making a real effort to lose weight. Feeling bad and hating my body wasn't ever enough, but now that I actually like myself, I'm doing it for me. And don't get me wrong, I don't think you should encourage unhealthy habits. I just don't think convincing your kid they're not good enough is the way to go.

My son is the top seeded tennis player at his High School.
He thanked me for that.
My ten year old was invited to be on the All Star baseball team; he thanked me.
My 14 year old is a top wrestler with a shelf full of 1st place and second place trophies.
Need I go on?
All 5 of my kids excel in school and exist at the top of the social food chain.
Keep making excuses, and we'll keep winning.
That's the difference.:drinker:

So that's what you care about? Your kids' athletic abilities and social status? Like I said, my parents and I are happy and have an awesome relationship, which I consider to be a lot more important.

The PARENTS control what the kid does, and what comes into the house, and what kind of eating habits these kids will have. If they are obese, the parents should take the full blame and, to a radical extent, I think they should be charged with child abuse.

To some extent. You can't FORCE a kid to eat things. I tried to push the issue with my fifteen year old when he was five. I was going to MAKE him eat that broccoli. He ate it all right... and made himself throw up on the table. My two year old will throw things that he doesn't like on the floor and will go hungry before eating something "ucky." (This is why I keep other things around that are healthy that he will eat.)

Sure, I can keep things out, but I can't force good eating. I'm going to guess that you don't have children. Once you have your own, you realize that everything is not as black and white as you seem to think.

Wrong.
As I already mentioned, success is a choice - no excuses.
First, none of my kids are fat but very fit - head and shoulders above 90% of their peers.
We have 5 kids.
I make them train and eat what I prepare, and we allow no junk food, soda or TV.
They indeed carp, and my response is always the same.
Eat what I make, or eat NOTHING, and in extreme cases taste belt leather.
End of story.
I refuse to raise what I see too much of in American society: fat, underachieving kids who will grow up to be fat, unhappy adults.
They can hate me now to love me later or whatever. It's not a popularity contest.
As a parent, I have a job to do.

If you're such an ambassador for healthy living, how did you get overweight?

Fast food Happy meals and kids meals are a big problem. My daughter loves them, and they are convenient. But we limit them, and she doesn't sit around and watch TV and play video games. She will be turing 4 in a couple of weeks, and the fast food meals are going away. I take her to the pool a few times a week. We play in the yard. She works out with me, doing P90X and Insanity. She loves it. I will be damned if she is going to be overweight from anything other than physiological causes. Keep the kids active, shut off the TV and video games, and make them eat fruits and veggies.