Posted By

April 3, 2008, 9:29 am
Flag as Inappropriate skatss  

  Subject

Tell The Whole Truth! 

I see so many parents around my neighborhood who talk about childhood obesity and say that because their kids are thin that that means they are healthy. The media is making the idea of thin is healthy into something that parents think is all there is to health.

I see so many kids who only seem to eat sugary snacks and fast food and I ask their moms about feeding them and all they do is smile and say that the kids hate vegetables and insist on fast food, so they give it to them because the kids are thin so they are healthy and so it's OK.

I think the media has to tell the whole story about childhood health. By once again condemning someone because they are overweight, we are simply keeping bad information being taught as truth.

A diet of fast food isn't ideal for anyone -- even thin kids get sick.  

April 3, 2008, 9:41 am
Flag as Inappropriate gbyrd says...

I agree. It is unfair. Parents need to take more responsiblity for their childrens health. Plain and simple, they need to stop giving in to their children. Start raising them instead of catering to them.  

April 3, 2008, 12:10 pm
Flag as Inappropriate michelle says...

I've never actually heard the media say that skinny people are healthy. Most of the news stories I hear are about obese adults and children, how to eat correctly and how to exercise properly.
Ultimately, you are correct. Just because someone is skinny doesn't mean they are healthy. 

April 3, 2008, 8:05 pm
Flag as Inappropriate carybyrd says...

I agree. But I also think parents need to set good examples when it comes to eating healthier.

Children think their parents are 10 feet tall and whatever the parent does the child wants to do the same.

So in order to have healthy kids we have to be healthy ourselves. Think about if everyone did that how it would impact our lives and country :)
 

April 3, 2008, 11:40 pm
Flag as Inappropriate mom2many says...

It's always easy to blame the parents. Not that there aren't some out there worthy of the blame, but a parent does not hold sole responsibility for an obese child or an underweight one. So many factors go into these problems. Modelling good behavior is important, but we also need to demand change in marketing to children. 

April 4, 2008, 2:33 am
Flag as Inappropriate djproscribe says...

Actually, yes, a parent does have primary responsibility for the well-being of children in their care. Unless there is a disorder of some sort, the parent is responsible for providing healthy food (to the extent they can) and providing the opportunity for exercise.

Lots of folk don't have the right information or use food as rewards or have their own issues with food so they don't really do right by their kids.

How on earth would a child bear sole responsibility for their own health care? 

April 4, 2008, 8:40 am
Flag as Inappropriate nightowl says...

Yes, I agree with carybyrd and djproscribe. We are 100% responsible for our children until they are capable of making the right decision on their own.

A child has no idea what is best for themselves so it is our job to protect and guide them. 

April 4, 2008, 12:31 pm
Flag as Inappropriate purple says...

There is definitely a skewed idea of "healthy" even if you are skinny. I recall being a size 8 jean in high school but being told I was fat because at 5ft5in I weighed 178lbs. I rode horses 5 days a week and cleaned stalls and biked and hiked and swam all summer long. Yeah I didn't have perfect abs but I was by no means at a high body fat level. I almost smacked the doctor who told me the height/weight scale said I was not only fat by borderline obese.

Since then actual obesity has been on the rise because the US covets convenience over nutrition most days. And cheap convenient snacks are not carrot sticks, but fried pretzels with cheese dip(at least it tastes like cheese who knows what it actually is). Parents as well as the media and other influences are responsible for shaping the next generation, but not everyone is willing to make that effort. 

April 5, 2008, 1:26 pm
Flag as Inappropriate K to the J says...

I agree with you 100%.

We talked about this in my health class a few years ago...

You can be overweight and most definitely be healthier than an anorexic person!

Some people feel like if they are skinny they can eat whatever they want. And then there are overweight kids who think they can eat healthy, but not exercise.

Being young you need to start off to a good diet until the rest of your life. Exercising and eating healthy is a big part of being healthy. You can't just say because your skinny and LOOK healthy that you are! Anybody can look healthy, but that's the outside! Take a look at the inside of a junk food-junkie who looks healthy, what do you see? An unhealthy person!