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Llamadance
> Teenager of the Year <
United Kingdom
2543 Posts |
 Posted - 10/25/2007 : 01:00:52
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Should parents be warned by the government for failing to keep their kids healthy? How would the schools check? Should they weigh children every 6 months and judge them on BMI? What sanctions should be taken by the government if parents failed to make improvements in their child's weight?
Is letting your child become obese tantamount to child abuse?
It appears there's an international obesity problem - in a recent study a 'snapshot' showed the practically every part of the world is geting fatter.
On the other hand, this article argues that the obesity card has been overplayed massively.
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danjersey
> Teenager of the Year <
USA
2792 Posts |
Posted - 10/25/2007 : 02:04:16
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| america you're making me hungary |
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BLT
> Teenager of the Year <
South Sandwich Islands
4204 Posts |
Posted - 10/25/2007 : 08:37:40
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| Fat kids aren't starting WWIII. Irrelevant discussion!!! |
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kathryn
~ Selkie Bride ~
Belgium
15320 Posts |
Posted - 10/25/2007 : 08:55:36
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Obesity is not a hyped-up non-issue. In the last 18 months to 2 years, public health officials are reporting potentially fatal byproduct diseases of obesity (such as diabetes) in areas where starvation/malnutrition are major causes of mortality.
Also, I see way too many women make their young daughters fear food, fat and fat people. I'm talking about girls as young as 3 years old, as well as mothers who obsess over weight charts lest their friggin newborns get too chubby!
So paradoxically we as a society need to keep obesity in check while simultaneously chill out about it.
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Edited by - kathryn on 10/25/2007 09:00:56 |
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Llamadance
> Teenager of the Year <
United Kingdom
2543 Posts |
Posted - 10/25/2007 : 09:23:48
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hmm, I agree, anecdotally, there's not that much of it here, especially amongst children under 11. That may be because we live in a rural area which is considered very safe. Lots of opportunities for getting out and about. Dunno if the incidence of obesity is higher in urban areas.
Kathryn, my wife brought up a similar point the other day, though I think she was arguing that eating disorders casue as much harm as obesity, which I don't think is the case. But I agree with you, if we obsess about it, then that'll probably give kids more hang ups.
So what's the answer? How do we improve health and awareness of obesity, while at the same time avoiding stigmatisation of parents & kids or giving other people hang ups? (Obviously there's no perfect solution) Is it worth some stigmatisation and the risk of hang ups to try and stem the tide?
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kathryn
~ Selkie Bride ~
Belgium
15320 Posts |
Posted - 10/25/2007 : 10:04:55
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quote:
Originally posted by Llamadance
hmm, I agree, anecdotally, there's not that much of it here, especially amongst children under 11. That may be because we live in a rural area which is considered very safe. Lots of opportunities for getting out and about. Dunno if the incidence of obesity is higher in urban areas.
True. But.
The argument can also be made that rural living causes obesity because many farming families (and I can easily think of several I know) still eat the way their grandparents did before much of the manual labor got done by machines. Also rural living causes obesity because it correlates with poverty which correlates with eating cheap white food which is what makes you fat.
quote:
Originally posted by Llamadance
Kathryn, my wife brought up a similar point the other day, though I think she was arguing that eating disorders casue as much harm as obesity, which I don't think is the case.
For a teen girl, anorexia is more fatal than leukemia. (I could tell you stats like that till next year.) Obesity is more visible and we hear about it more, but eating disorders (especially anorexia) are terrifyingly prevalent yet seemingly invisible.
quote:
Originally posted by Llamadance
But I agree with you, if we obsess about it, then that'll probably give kids more hang ups.
Another of the statistics I just warned you I could dump here....and I'm going to phrase this wrong (was up most of the night with a sick kid) ....parents are the No. 1 cause of eating disorders in girls.
quote:
Originally posted by Llamadance
So what's the answer? How do we improve health and awareness of obesity, while at the same time avoiding stigmatisation of parents & kids or giving other people hang ups? (Obviously there's no perfect solution) Is it worth some stigmatisation and the risk of hang ups to try and stem the tide?
We're talking about two things.
First the stigma. The stigma is about body image, fashion and bullying. People aren't made fun of because their fat might give them health trouble. It has nothing to do with health concerns on behalf of those who discriminate against fat people.
Stopping obesity and improving awareness of obesity? Via marketing. Stop vanity sizing of clothes (making clothes bigger but labeling them small), stop supersizing food portions. I don't know if the latter is confined to the States or if you in Europe know what I'm talking about. But I cross the US/Canada border on a frequent basis and as I head south, I see food portions more than double -- and ditto the people. So, yeah, capitalism makes people fat.
Happy hearts fall from my shaking hands
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Edited by - kathryn on 10/25/2007 10:09:51 |
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VoVat
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
USA
9168 Posts |
Posted - 10/25/2007 : 13:32:05
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I think making kids exercise is tantamount to child abuse. :P
"If you doze much longer, then life turns to dreaming. If you doze much longer, then dreams turn to nightmares." |
Edited by - VoVat on 10/25/2007 13:32:40 |
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dayanara
* Dog in the Sand *
Australia
1811 Posts |
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BLT
> Teenager of the Year <
South Sandwich Islands
4204 Posts |
Posted - 10/25/2007 : 15:02:47
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I am also an obessive food label reader, dayanara.
Ever compare Mexican Coca-Cola to American Coke? The Mexican stuff tastes much better because it's made with sugar, not cheapo HFCS swill. |
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dayanara
* Dog in the Sand *
Australia
1811 Posts |
Posted - 10/25/2007 : 15:05:22
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HFCS is banned in mexico (because it kills you).
i hate anyone who doesn't like me. |
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kathryn
~ Selkie Bride ~
Belgium
15320 Posts |
Posted - 10/25/2007 : 15:12:39
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I refuse to knowingly consume or buy anything with that crap in it.
Happy hearts fall from my shaking hands
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dayanara
* Dog in the Sand *
Australia
1811 Posts |
Posted - 10/25/2007 : 15:19:39
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obviously most people would rather be fat than spend more than $0.99 on a loaf of bread or stop shopping for groceries at the goddamn walmart.
i hate anyone who doesn't like me. |
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kathryn
~ Selkie Bride ~
Belgium
15320 Posts |
Posted - 10/25/2007 : 15:30:09
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I know people with money who buy that crap and they're not trying to save a few bucks. They just don't know or don't care.
Happy hearts fall from my shaking hands
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dayanara
* Dog in the Sand *
Australia
1811 Posts |
Posted - 10/25/2007 : 15:42:31
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my aunt and uncle, a college professor and accountant, threw away my hormone/antibiotic-free milk when i was staying at their house. they don't buy that "fancy organic" stuff on principle. blows my mind.
llama, to answer your question - it IS child abuse. i'm too lazy to look for the actual numbers but studies have shown that if you're a fat kid your chances of moving past that and being a normal weight adult are <15%.
i hate anyone who doesn't like me. |
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Llamadance
> Teenager of the Year <
United Kingdom
2543 Posts |
Posted - 10/25/2007 : 15:48:24
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quote:
Originally posted by BLT
I am also an obessive food label reader, dayanara.
Ever compare Mexican Coca-Cola to American Coke? The Mexican stuff tastes much better because it's made with sugar, not cheapo HFCS swill.
I never even drink fizzy drinks like cola or lemonade anymore.......though I do drink sports drinks when exercising.
Dayanara, is HFCS just used in the US? I've never heard of it. Not sure what Scotland's excuse is seeing as we are apparently the second fattest nation in the world. (I'd guess at rampant alcoholism and deep fried food though)
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Carolynanna
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
Canada
6556 Posts |
Posted - 10/25/2007 : 15:56:11
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Always blaming parents.....
Although I'm sure some are to blame.
I see what some parents pack in their kids lunches.
I'm an obsessive label reader as well.
No corn syrup, no refined sugars, pretty much nothing white and nothing with artificial colour, as little saturated fat as possible, whole grain bread, brown rice etc etc etc.
But I'm sure genetics have some play in here too.
Now again, how come only 1 of my 3 kids has weight issues. We all eat the same, essentially.
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Fuck off I got work to do. |
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dayanara
* Dog in the Sand *
Australia
1811 Posts |
Posted - 10/25/2007 : 16:22:41
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llama, i'm not really sure how hfcs is marketed internationally. if you can walk into your local supermarket, pick up the cheapest loaf of bread or bottle of salad dressing on the shelf and not see it on the ingredients list i'd say that's not an issue in your area.
c - obviously genetics are a factor for some kids and i applaud you on putting your family first and taking steps to keep them healthy. your approach is all too rare and i think that generally speaking, placing the blame on anyone but the parents would be inappropriate. the overwhelming majority of overweight kids do not have metabolic or endocrine disorders. they were not born predisposed to obesity. there are plenty of mothers who stop at mcdonalds on the way home from school because it is quicker and easier, knowing it's wrong, but somehow rationalizing it and giving in anyway. personal responsibility is key.
i hate anyone who doesn't like me. |
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Topic |
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Parents of fat kids
