Debate: Childhood obesity

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I am very keen for you to add to this ongoing discussion aimed at determining what factors contribute significantly to childhood obseity and what you as a parent can do or have done to influence your children’s eating habits.

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It would my pleasure to

Kevin Nash

07 Dec 201206:27

It would my pleasure to debate on childhood obesity, as we well known with the fact that childhood obesity is one of the ongoing viruses in the society now which hits several kids around the world.

The rising percentage of childhood obesity recognized around the world it causes through several reasons, such as unhealthy relationship with foods and recipes, lack of physical workouts among kids and consume of excess junk foods.
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Obesity one of the worst

Dale Hussey

09 Oct 201213:11

Obesity one of the worst factors found in every age group from teen to old age. But the concepts of childhood obesity are now being most critical as these practices are cause due to unhealthy relationship with eating practices or diets.

The ratio percentage of childhood obesity rapidly increases among the country therefore most of the government or non government organizations are used to ban consuming fast foods/junk foods. In my point of view childhood obesity totally depends upon the risk of parents they should be more conscious about their child eating habits and give more stress to changing healthy diet plans.

These kinds of diet plans are more effective and help any children to reduce some amount of weight easily and the most essential point’s physical activities.

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Factors which contribute to childhood obesity

Archive Comments

09 Jul 200711:57

nice

Asad Ali

30 Apr 201209:13

(Post deleted by OpenLearn Moderator 01.05.12)

Re: Factors which contribute to childhood obesity

Archive Comments

11 Dec 200801:07

I'm probably not adding anything new to this thread with this post but just wanted to join in.

Stupid, lazy and irresponsible parents are spoiling their "fruit" and helping to generate huge cash flows for companies who are very willing to exploit.

Weak parents, immoral marketing and child sovereignty.

Chimney Sweepers Regulation Act 1864 ...was this the beginning of the end for skinny kids?

Divorced parents set a bad line on self indulgence being acceptable.

Use GM to make vegetables taste like chocolate.

Re: Factors which contribute to childhood obesity

Archive Comments

05 Jun 200823:21

Both my daughters were born relatively heavy(8.3bls, and 9.1bls) but initially lost weight in the first fortnight after birth. I breastfed on demand(and I mean on demand) and they still both only put on 1 or 2 lbs per week. The health visitor got quite fidgety, even though she could see each baby was thriving(i.e. growing in length, looking very alert, weeeing and pooing, and good strong muscle use).
With the first I broke down at 8 weeks and started supplementing with a bottle feed in the afternoon(she developed asthma, go figure), with the second after the Paediatric GP told me she wasn't getting enough calories, I tried 8 or so different bottles and teats which she just refused point blank so I gave up and just continued on demand feeds.
I started both on baby rice at 15 weeks(well they were each born a week overdue!) and miraculously they started putting on weight as per the 'well researched'(not) growth chart centiles. First child is a skinniy minni and tall compared with her parents, second child is even taller than the first and following the same growth pattern.
OBESITY starts with interfering health 'experts' insisting a child isn't thriving because they may not be following a predetermined(usually formed on 'average' weights of bottle fed babies) weight growth chart which in no way allows for the 20% or so that just don't conform to the norm. I breast fed for 8 and 12 months respectively, felt enormous pressure with both about their weight gain(whilst I believd both babies to be thriving since they were achieving some motor and sensory skills 2 months early), as if weight was the only positive indicator in progress.
The pressure mothers feel to FEED their babies in the early months, continues through into later infancy and then into childhood, without regard to the childs' need for nutritional sustinance. I have seen mothers feeding their children when what they really need is a nap, or a drink, or some attention. Others will feed a child unsuitable foods as a comfort because they(the mother)feel the need for comfort and interpret the childs' cry in this way.
You have to give permission to mothers that it is OK to let their baby get a bit hungry now and again. We are so caught up with the 'conveying the message to the lowest common denominator that we have lost all sense of proportion and common sense. No I don't propose starving children, I just advocate not over-feeding them, or rather not feeding them endless snacks that totally ruin any hint of appetite they may develope for their meal.
It starts at birth and the attitudes we all have to diet and what our weight 'should' be.

Re: Factors which contribute to childhood obesity

Archive Comments

27 Sep 200701:08

Childhood obesity stems from western choice. Parents need to teach defered gratification and not claim their kids pay no attention to them.
My son can't eat whatever he wants because I don't buy it and he can't afford it so he eats well.
I also forced them both as very young boys to run around and play out and get a bit of mud under their nails!
Get mentally used to activity and then later they have no hangups about exercise.
This worked quite well for me as they now go running and to the gym at times to keep slender.
Balance in life is everything. Moderation is the key.
If you really are a concerned parent simply take their money away and buy whatever shopping is wholesome.
You can't make excuses then unless your child is a hedgefund manager who buys his own lunch!
It is the parents fault out of laziness and self imposed ignorance.

Sue

Re: Factors which contribute to childhood obesity

Archive Comments

21 May 200819:15

having considered this question for several days i must conclude that chips are in fact the cause, does anyone else agree?
ian.

Re: Factors which contribute to childhood obesity

Archive Comments

05 Jun 200822:48

As a physiotherapist in the NHS I am particularly worried about the ever increasing rates of obesity
in children and the effects this will have not only on their future health but also future health care services.

The answer to why their is a childhood obesity epidemic seems obvious to me. Modern processed diets that are low in nutrients and fibre keep our kids on the insulin release rollercoaster. This is equally matched by an increasing decline in exercise.

The big question for me is is not the reason for childhood obesity but how we combat it. I would like to see a compulsary basic health care education in schools. I know this does happen but for me it is not well organised and could possibly be developed into a GCSE or higher qualification. I am extremely frustarted as a health care professional who sees the aftermath of poor health due to lack of basic knowledge.

Re: Factors which contribute to childhood obesity

Archive Comments

05 Jun 200823:02

I know many parents who are very aware of there childrens bad eating habits and poor table manners. I wonder where the children get it from!
They are learning from what they are seeing. Especially in terms of hearing dad say "I dont want salad I don't like it " If we as parents are not prepared to lead by example then we will have to rely on Jamie Oliver eventually visiting every household and school, something I don't think he has got time for.

Re: Factors which contribute to childhood obesity

Archive Comments

09 Jul 200712:35

Lyndon,

I wonder if anyone has given any thought to the stricter line taken with name calling in schools?

When I was at school during the 70s, calling someone a bit pudgy fatso was something to which a blind eye would be turned. Nowadays, I understand from my nephews that this would be termed bullying and dealt with as a serious issue.

I do wonder what the effect of, effectively, outlawing peer pressure against putting on weight has been?

Re: Factors which contribute to childhood obesity

Archive Comments

13 Aug 200700:23

our whole lifestyles are different now than any time in history. Technology has been a positive but also negative thing in our change of diet and lifestyles. We are seeing the repercussions from the Changing of the structure of food by technology and also being less active as a society, wanting to find ways of cutting corners. Our education has changed, giving less education on practical things such as homekeeping and family, which was significant in the 50s. Women are now wanting careers, but also society expects both parents to work. There is no time to learn to cook, this skill is being lost. This lack of skill is then transferred to our children. Now a society riddled with lifestyle diseases and getting worse.

Re: Factors which contribute to childhood obesity

Archive Comments

27 Aug 200715:04

I am a health educator who deals directly with overweight kids. Observations include: Physical education is no longer a daily requirement at most schools, two income families limit the amount of playground time after school, easy accessibility to junk food, and too much t.v. and computer activities. These are challenges, however, I don't believe they are insurmountable.

Go to the core, meaning the family. What can they do to be healthier? I have parents who come in wanting to fix their child, oblivious to their own unhealthy habits. Making it fun is important. When we discuss nutrition, we string sugar packets together to demonstrate the amount of sugar in a soda pop, have the kids tell us about a balanced meal using our food models, set up a mock grocery store and go shopping, and play fun, team based fitness games. An adventurous, creative attitude towards lifestyle change is key.

Jennifer Pigeon

Re: Factors which contribute to childhood obesity

Archive Comments

14 Sep 200712:30

Thanks Jenniger, they're interesting insights.

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Originally published: Monday, 9th July 2007
Last updated on: Monday, 26th October 2009

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