If you walk into an elementary school class room, two out of every five children would be obese. Not overweight, obese. Their lunches would be packed with processed foods and sugared beverages and they probably would not actively participate in gym class or recess. So who is to blame? It is not the child's fault he or she is given certain foods. The child cannot drive to the store, pick out an apple instead of a hoho, pay the cashier and bring it home; that is the responsibility of the parents. The child didn't buy the x-box that he or she plays all day instead of playing outside and doing physical activity.
Parents are responsible for the weight of their child.
If a child went to school extremely thin and with bruises on their body there would be an immediate investigation concerning child abuse because the wellbeing and health of the child is at risk. So why, then, are the parents of the child who is near fifty pounds overweight not being investigated for child abuse? The health and wellbeing of the obese child is just as threatened as that of the malnourished or physically abused child.
Obesity in children causes increase in cholesterol, factors for cardiovascular disease and chance of developing diabetes and cancer. It also causes low self-esteem, bullying and lack of confidence. In addition obesity in a child can influence their life style habits for life. A parent who allows his or her child to become obese is just as bad as the parent who commits malnourishment or hits their child. They are putting their children at extreme health risks and tainting their mental wellbeing and mindset. Isn’t that exactly why we arrest parents who malnourish or beat their children?
Parents of an obese child may defend themselves by saying they do not have adequate finances to buy healthy food for their child. I would take this into consideration because it is obvious that healthy, natural foods are near triple the price of processed, high in fat and sugar filled foods. But studies show that childhood obesity is more influenced by lack of physical activity than caloric intake. So though it matters that the parents do not have the finances to supply the child with optimal food sources there is no excuse that the parents cannot make their child participate in thirty minutes of physical activity a day.
Physical activity is not just working out with weights and a treadmill; it can be fun for the kids. Take the dog for a walk in the park, shoot hoops in the driveway, go swimming at the community pool, swing, play catch, all these things are fun activities that parents can do with their child that will keep them fit and healthy. There is no excuse for children not to get the needed amount of physical activity to stay fit.
This is no longer a small issue, this is a nationwide epidemic, and it needs to be stopped.
How do we stop it? It starts with education of the parents. Many parents are unaware of the side effects of childhood obesity and how to prevent it. Perhaps insurance companies can mandate that if minors are to be covered under an adult’s plan that the adults go through a childhood obesity course that informs them of the causes and side effects of obesity. Maybe companies whose main consumers are children can put larger, easier to read labels on their products. These things can be instituted by the federal government. Since our health care system is in need of reform, perhaps the government can write in some of these new ideas to adhere for the current epidemic. The idea of change for the better is a great ideal of this country and there is no better time than now to change our health issues.
Ultimately it is the responsibility of the parents to control their child’s weight. But we may need help from the government. The government can control a lot when it comes to food processing, manufacturing and advertisement. It can also institute new polices to and requirements of health care systems to encourage parents to keep their kids healthy. The main thing we are missing in this epidemic is motivation to become a healthier nation and we may be able to find that with the help of our leaders. Childhood obesity is a crisis in this country, are you going to fuel it or fight it?
Parents are responsible for the weight of their child.
If a child went to school extremely thin and with bruises on their body there would be an immediate investigation concerning child abuse because the wellbeing and health of the child is at risk. So why, then, are the parents of the child who is near fifty pounds overweight not being investigated for child abuse? The health and wellbeing of the obese child is just as threatened as that of the malnourished or physically abused child.
Obesity in children causes increase in cholesterol, factors for cardiovascular disease and chance of developing diabetes and cancer. It also causes low self-esteem, bullying and lack of confidence. In addition obesity in a child can influence their life style habits for life. A parent who allows his or her child to become obese is just as bad as the parent who commits malnourishment or hits their child. They are putting their children at extreme health risks and tainting their mental wellbeing and mindset. Isn’t that exactly why we arrest parents who malnourish or beat their children?
Parents of an obese child may defend themselves by saying they do not have adequate finances to buy healthy food for their child. I would take this into consideration because it is obvious that healthy, natural foods are near triple the price of processed, high in fat and sugar filled foods. But studies show that childhood obesity is more influenced by lack of physical activity than caloric intake. So though it matters that the parents do not have the finances to supply the child with optimal food sources there is no excuse that the parents cannot make their child participate in thirty minutes of physical activity a day.
Physical activity is not just working out with weights and a treadmill; it can be fun for the kids. Take the dog for a walk in the park, shoot hoops in the driveway, go swimming at the community pool, swing, play catch, all these things are fun activities that parents can do with their child that will keep them fit and healthy. There is no excuse for children not to get the needed amount of physical activity to stay fit.
This is no longer a small issue, this is a nationwide epidemic, and it needs to be stopped.
How do we stop it? It starts with education of the parents. Many parents are unaware of the side effects of childhood obesity and how to prevent it. Perhaps insurance companies can mandate that if minors are to be covered under an adult’s plan that the adults go through a childhood obesity course that informs them of the causes and side effects of obesity. Maybe companies whose main consumers are children can put larger, easier to read labels on their products. These things can be instituted by the federal government. Since our health care system is in need of reform, perhaps the government can write in some of these new ideas to adhere for the current epidemic. The idea of change for the better is a great ideal of this country and there is no better time than now to change our health issues.
Ultimately it is the responsibility of the parents to control their child’s weight. But we may need help from the government. The government can control a lot when it comes to food processing, manufacturing and advertisement. It can also institute new polices to and requirements of health care systems to encourage parents to keep their kids healthy. The main thing we are missing in this epidemic is motivation to become a healthier nation and we may be able to find that with the help of our leaders. Childhood obesity is a crisis in this country, are you going to fuel it or fight it?