Why is it that parents let their kids eat whatever they want and make them become overweight or even obese?

Question

If a toddler or a young child is overweight than there is a great chance they will be overweight when they become adults. Children who are overweight is at a great chance of being isolated and excluded from their peers and school. Also they may be the target of being picked on. Some parents don't seem to see how this will affect their children in the long run. Why do their parents spoil them and feed them a lot of sugary and fatty foods? Why do they insist that it's difficult to resist giving the child what they want because they "love them so much". Is it because they don't want to hear the kid crying and screaming, so they think that stuffing them with a lot of food is going to make them shut up? I understand parenting is tough and seeing those innocent eyes of a sugar and fat craving child is difficult to ignore, but they've got to be strong. Watching some of my friends overfeeding their children really saddens me and I could only just sit there and watch them in silence.

Answer 1

It's wrong to assume that all heavy children eat nothing but sugar. I have a chunky daughter who probably eats better than you. She doesn't like sweets and her after school snack is usually fruit or veggies. If she has a second helping of anything, it's usually whatever fruit or veggie is being served. She also drinks alot of water. The only time she really gets soda is one on the weekends. Prior to this year, she really wasn't getting enough PE in school. At home, she has a hard time playing outside because of bad neighbors, so we got her an indoor trampeline that she loves to use. This year, she's changed schools and getting PE at least twice a week. As far as being "big boned", sure some people say it, but other really have it. I'm a chunk woman too, but my bones still stick out in some places because they're so big. Nobody really has the right to judge the appearance of someone and why they look the way they do unless they're that persons doctor and knows all the facts. Yes, being over weight can be unhealthy, but so can being skinny. These people that feel they have to starve their kids so you can see their bones are endangering them just as much. It goes both ways. They look like they'll break if you touch them. Not good either!! No parent should give their kids junk just to keep them quiet. They need to stick by good eating habits, but the parents have to eat it as well as the children.

Don't judge all overweight kids just on looks. Some of them are built different and don't touch the stuff that's not good for them.

Answer 2

I completely agree it is not like there is not enough info out there about childhood obesity. I think parents work more and then feel guilt for not been with their kids so give them junk to make their kids "love" them. My aim is to have happy healthy kids. They have a good diet low in saturated fats and sugar. These are sometimes food. if they are hungry then there is milk yogurt and fruit and veg. Occasionally we will get take-away but not very often. We try to stay away from processed foods. They do sports several nights a week and regularly ride to school or scooter. I am overweight and have been since a kid and now due to the need of two new hips (childhood illness caused) cannot exercise. I will never let my kids go through the troubles of been an overweight child. It is terrible. Most parents of overweight kids are overweight themselves why would they put their kids through what they go through. Once I have my new hips my first priority is to get off the weight and lead by example to my kids

Answer 3

I don't disagree with you, there are a large amount of overweight and obese kids and sure you can completely blame the parents for not haveing control over their kids. However, it might be better to try to understand the person and see why they do it. I've come up with possible reasons. Of course, there not really hard fact it's just my opinion.

Firstly, you could blame how the parent 's on upbringing. If as a child they were also overweight because their parents didn't control them, that would explain their reaction to their own child. They don't really no any other way to raise their child. If they were raised on junk and fast food, it's pretty much become more of a habit to go out and buy prepared food then to make healthy wholesome food at home. What I've seen pretty often are overweight children have overweight parents. I'm not trying to make an in general statement, just an observation.

Secondly, there's the family's economic status. The family can't afford buying groceries everyweek and filling up on a bag of Cheetos for 1.29 is cheaper than buying vegetables, meat and etc. Also, if no one eats it in the household, vegetables/meat and other perishables rot in a week while chips last for at least a month.

Thirdly, education and having the resources to educate oneself. If they don't see that it actually is better to buy a head of lettuce for 1.29 than a bag of chips, they're not going to buy. Especially if the head of lettuce will have to be thrown away and would be a waste of money.

Well lastly, people like to eat what tastes good. I'll be the first to admit that Doritos tastes a hell of a lot better than Romain lettuce. I don't have any kids myself but I know how kids can be a handful. When you have three kids running around and screaming their heads off for candy, I'm sure you'll understand your friends a lot better.

Answer 4

Simple...parents don't take the time to make healthy choices. This means educating themselves about what healthy foods they should be feeding their kids AND what healthy foods they should be eating themselves.

Kids learn by example - if a parent eats poorly, so will the child - and it my mind that is the same as child neglect. By the way, buying junk food is WAY more expensive than eating fresh, healthy food. Trust me, when you go to the store and buy chips, soda and oreos - it costs a lot more than potatoes, bananas, beans, etc.

And it isn't about time either - I can make a healthy meal for my whole family is less than 30 min. - all it takes is some planning and prep and if you care about your kids - YOU WILL FIND THE TIME TO DO THIS

Bottom line - your kids are the most important so parents should make the time and take the effort to teach them how to eat healthy.

P.S. I agree, sweets are a great TREAT for a kid - but that means TREAT - not everyday occurrence. And I am a mom, by the way, not just some crazy :)

Answer 5

thanks.... cos this is exactly what happened in my case... i think being obese is a curse... when u r young u are called names and automatic rejection in school teams... how much ever talented u r..When u grow up girls look to u as some kid or soft person... no one wants u as the first option... its sad... the blame is not totally on the parents... cos that generation was not fitness freaks.. nor they knew abt heart attacks... cos they ate healthy, natural food.. even it was of huge quantity... people in my hometown still eat fat items 3 times a day at the age of 70 !!!! but not a complaint... so they want the child to look healthy... cos "FAT" for them is healthy when it comes to their kid... it a child is lean they cant bare it... its ok if the kid is 5-6 years old... but they need to teach him essentials of having regular food timings, postures, fitness, proper sleep etc when they are in their teens.. cos if they lose the teens then they pretty much stay the same... so to start with the parents phsycology is such... they were brought up this way.. and obese people once they get into hectic workd schedules where there is not much physical labour... they find it difficult to change food habits and suddenly look trim... But if the parents of this generation do it, knowing the harm of chemical junk foods and health problems related to obesity... its a crime... they should be dragged to counselling....

Answer 6

My neice came down for the simmer and she's a chub chub. She is only 8 and was about the same weight as ME!!! I am 24. She was really picky on the food she ate. always pband J sandwiches or mac and cheese. if i cooked steaks or hamburgers she wouldn't eath them she wanted what he wanted and a lot of it. anyway............ when we told her no she'd say well my mom lets me eat whatever i want out of the fridge and whenever i want it. when we asked her mom aobut it she said that she does that to keep the child happy. this is my sis-in-law and bro's first kid and i really don't think that they know just how to raise a kid. I am afraid that the next one (they have a 2 yo boy too) will be like their first. She is a sweet girl but she runs the family at their house. I guess it is just people that want to appease their child. I donk know, but i saw it first hand and it disgusted me too!

Answer 7

Overweight is caused 999 out of a thousand by either taking in too many calories (overeating) or not doing enough exercise.

All this "I'm big boned", or "It's my hormones" is a load of rubbish. Nobody coming out of a Japanese prison camp or a concentration camp ever had problems with being obese.

We are naturally inclined to eat high energy (sweet and / or fatty) foods as a survival strategy from the days when we literally didn't know where our next meal was coming from.

Children like sweet things, so they eat them with relish. It's a soft option. You are absolutely right, as a parent, you have to be tough. It starts right at weaning. Children don't miss what they don't have, and find pure fruit perfectly sweet enough.

Of course, sweets in moderation are not the devils food. I like them, we all like them. The key is moderation. A good balanced diet, with plenty of exercise.

Answer 8

Uuuggg... I know exactly what you mean. Some people literally feed their kids Fruity Pebbles, Cokes and fast food EVERY DAY. No vegetables or fruits. And then they are glued to video games after school or all day on the weekends. Drives me nuts. I understand people are tired after working all day, but geez...there are always healthy tasty alternatives if one takes the time to seek them out.

Answer 9

Why, because they are irresponsible, or overweight themselves.

At some point, letting your child get severely obese will become child neglect or endangerment, I'm sure.

Answer 10

hey hun....i hear ya loud and clear...my mom used to give me and my twin sis coke in our baby bottles and i am still hooked on it!...now that im a mom i am trying to make healthier decisions for me and my family (my hubby is fightin' me on it tooth and nail cause he doesnt gain weight very fast lol) because it's a lot easier to eat healthy if your taught that early in life as to trying to learn it later on...lets face it...it's a lot harder to get excited about eating a carrot if you have grown up on hotpockets!...but the other fact is to that RARLEY but in some cases genetics do cause more weight gain then usual....love daisy