Is anyone else appalled by the recent Child weight issue?

Question

Having read some of the articles about these morbidly obese children I have been appalled to read the responses from the parents. I find it ridiculous that these parents feel they are not responsible for the size of their children.
Surely they are ones buying the weekly shopping and cooking the meals. How can they not be responsible???
To say the child doesn't like Veg is ridiculous all kids will try that one at some stage.

Answer 1

It's shocking and disturbing, and i totally agree with you regarding the parents response's.
a few years ago many schools were being slagged off for the lack of healthy food they were serving kids at meal times, so they introduce healthier meals, and the result? mothers up in arms standing at the school gates passing junk food through the fence,and yet in their eyes their not doing anything wrong, but the schools are for offering healthier meals- rock and hard place spring to mind!
Many children suffer from puppy fat and this normally disappears and many parents dont tend to notice it, but when a child is so over weight they cant bend down to tie their own shoe laces or get out of breath just walking up the stairs, alarm bells should be ringing somewhere!
so where does the blame lie? some might say supermarkets for making sugary treats so visible, ie right by the check out counter, hell even the manufacturers for making their products so brightly packaged that a child simply cant refuse?
I believe parents are responsible for what their children eat within reason, you cant watch what they eat all the time, but limit the sugar intake, if a child's hungry in between meals then offer fruit instead of a bar of chocolate or a bag of crisps, or when the weekly shop is done cut out treats altogether, if it's not there it cant be eaten.
I hope i dont offend anybody, this is just my own personal opinion and thanks for reading.

Answer 2

Yes I think parents should watch what their children eat. But, after reading some of the answers on this question, I am a little scared that the next law to be made will be to put parents in jail if their children are over weight.

I grew up heavy and my sister was thin. We ate the same food, and were active. I think metabolism has a lot to do with it. The problem now days is the T.V., Computer and the Video Games.

I have five children and out of the five one was overweight. He started skate boarding and he is very thin now. So I think if we could get the kids off the computers, video games and T.V. there might be some slimmer children.

We cannot all be thin. But we were more active than our children are now. They don't even know what it is like to play baseball with the neighborhood kids. They think the only way to play is on a league.

Well let's hope that there aren't any laws passed that we start arresting parents and taking children away from their parents because they are overweight.

Answer 3

Obesity is not just affecting children, adult are getting bigger too.
The only real way to lose weight?
Eat less, move more.
As for the parents being responsible, definitely. I've recently become a parent and if my Daughter shows any signs of becoming obese, I'll try to prevent it before she gets too out of control, not just sit back and blame everyone else for not helping like the Mother of the 14 stone 8 year old!
There are several reasons why this country is becoming an overweight nation, binge drinking, convenience food, lack of exercise, fatty foods, to name but a few. PWS syndrome may be one answer but I would imagine (admittedly not that well educated on the matter) that it's the minority of obese people that suffer with it

Answer 4

Parent's are to blame when they buy all of this crap food for their kids. Also, children pick up habits from what they see their parents doing, so if the parent sits in front of the tv and isn't active, the kid will probably do the same. I think better meal planning and more activity is the best way to go, but for a lot of people this requires changing their lifestyle. I wish there was a quick fix to this problem because obesity in america is getting worse and worse.

Answer 5

It made me feel sick when I saw that boy eating his food. I blame the parents totally as its them buying the food that is killing their children. I dont know how they can afford to buy all that disgusting food cause I know I couldnt. Some of them are just too lazy to cook proper food, but they are not thinking what damage they are doing to their children. Imagine what the bullying is like from other children, its heartbreaking.
What I dont agree with is the schools allowing those children to have fattening foods at lunchtime too. If I had a shop and they were coming in buying huge bars of chocolate for these children I would refuse to serve them or end up having to say something to the mothers.

Answer 6

#1 everyone (including the media) needs to be aware of Prader-Willie Syndrome. It is a very real problem and I hate to see people bashing parents if for some reason a child of 4-8 has not been properly diagnosed. No, I'm not saying all these kids have that problem and yes it is parental attitude and/or neglect, However, please educate yourselves to this:

PRADER WILLIE SYNDROME

THE DISORDER OF THE APPETITE
A brain dysfunction in the level of the hypothalamus is the reason of this disorder in the center of the appetite and satiety, which is typical of PWS.
To eat compulsively and the obsession with the food normally begins before 6 years old.
The impulse of eating is physiological and very big, it is very difficult to control and requires constant alertness.
A balanced diet, low in calories with vitamin supplementation and calcium supplement is advisable. To be weighed regularly and a periodic review of the diet is necessary.
The education to eat small morsels, morsel by morsel and healthy NON FAT food is the plan to apply routinely and in a consistent form.
The weight control depends on the restriction of the food out of home or out of alertness and it may be needed to close with key the kitchen and areas of food storage.
PWS KIDS will even "forge"/hide to get food into their systems and eat frozen uncooked food and from the garbage. This problem exists and is real.

Answer 7

It is definately the responsibility of the parents 2 keep their children on a healthy diet. What children like veg?? that is no excuse i was always made 2 eat them (still r actually lol) It is their own fault if their children r obese its not like they have 2 follow a Gillian McKeith diet and give them nuts as a treat jus stick 2 good food and keep bad food in moderation

Answer 8

Yes it is disappointing. It seems the parents are too busy, or don't have the skillset to manage their childs food intake.
"Blaming" is the newest skill they are using. It's sad. I agree the parents are responsible and yes they all have busy lives. It's unfortunate that the quick fix is their answer to keep the peace in the house. Those children with obese issues now will have a difficult time fitting in to their schools and society.

Answer 9

The parents are slowly killing their kids. They need to get some form of help maybe lessons in a good diet. It's not the kids fault as the parents have control over want they eat. just because a kid doesn't like fruit and veg doesn't mean they can't eat healthily.

Answer 10

The british boy, the 8 year old 200 pounder, in the videos they showed on the news of him his mom is sitting on the couch next to him, cutting up fried chicken and pork chops and hand feeding him. the kid is just sitting back as she shovels the food into his mouth.
This is not a metabolism problem. This is a mom problem.