Should parents be blamed if their child is fat?

Question

I think the parents are the sole reason for their child being fat. Unless there is a serious medical issue (which is rare- 1% of society has glandular problems that would cause weight issue) all others just eat too much.

I hate when parents say, "My kids won't eat salad, all he eats is macaroni." Are parents that dumb that they don't know that they are the ones buying the macaroni. If the child had no option they would eat whatever they had.

What do you think?

Sufi- before we can address the problem we must find out what the problem is and who is a major contributor to the problem. If it is the parents then we have to first come to that conclusion before we can help them. They must know they are to blame for their child's obesity.

Shannon- Yes it is my business when my TAX dollars are going towards peoples medical bills. A lot of these kids are on welfare and get free medical. If they ate healthier than we wouldn't be paying out as much.

yep its me - I am a parent. I have 3 kids. Ages 12, 9, and 6. None are overweight, although my middle child looks as if though she may have problems if she doesn't watch her diet as an adult.

Answer 1

I think you are 100% right.I have said this all along.If the parents were more involved in there children's lives it wouldn't happen.If they only bought food that is good for them and didn't give them choices,the kids would be better off.Parents over feed kids as a way to comfort them by not being there for them.I grew up with you eat what's put in front of you or don't eat.I'm not overweight and neither are my children.Parents are the only one who can control what their kids eat.So wake up parents out there ( you know who you are ) and be there for your children.Stop blaming others and suing for your problems.

Answer 2

Up to a certain age, somewhere around 12 I'd guess, it's the parent's obligation to provide good nutrition and see that the child gets proper exercise and healthy food.

I can't say that a parent has much control over kids once they hit middle school and highschool though, because they tend to eat independently, and are making their own choices at that point. However, it's still a parent's obligation to ensure at least one meal a day is proper, and encourage excercise/activity.

Rarely, obesity is metabolically related and out of anyone's control. The vast majority of obesity in America is not a medical condition - it's too many calories and not enough activity. Yes, this falls under the parents' responsibility. How can it not?

Answer 3

I agree with you for the most part - but did want to add that in addition to the 1% that may be overweight due to a medical issue - there is also a small percentage of kids that are overweight due to medications for a medical condition. For example, my sister was slightly overweight as a child because she was a severe asthmatic, and was put on a high dose of oral prednisone - a steriod that causes bloating and increased hunger, etc.

But I do think its the parents responsibility to ensure not only that their child eats a healthy diet, but also gets proper exercise, which is very important and I think lacking in today's society. Parents wouldn't have to watch their child's diet as much if the child gets proper exercise. I remember growing up, I ate pretty freely what I wanted, had my share of junk food and fast food.... BUT, I pretty much spent my childhood outdoors, running around, playing sports, walking to and from school, etc.

I have three kids, all are very slim. They eat healthy for the most part, once in a blue moon will have fast food or junk food (everything is ok in moderation!) - but they are very active kids and get a lot of good exercise. Like you said, kids aren't doing the grocery shopping, parents are, you should control what your kids eat while you can!

Answer 4

I do not think that it is all a kids or parents fault. Some people are built big they will be big as adults. but, that does not excuse people who are extremely overweight, people like that ususally have some sort of mental problem that causes them to have the compulsion to eat. I think that people who are just a little over weight are fine, it is the way they want to be and it is just fine. It is all diffenernt when they are very obese. It is usually the kids fault after they are old enough to choose what goes in their mouth. Parents can not force their kids to eat something or not eat something. You should not worry about other peoples weights because you have no clue what goes on in their life but do the best to guide your kids and never ridicule them for the way that they are.

Answer 5

First of all let me say i agree with you, when i was dating my hubby ,he's devorced brother stayed with him and he had a sweet little boy,so every weekend i would be there, i would cook for the men seeing that they only had junc food during the week, and something that i picked up then is if i made veggies the dad said, i dont eat that the son will say i dont eat that, so after my kids were born i made my hubby swear that he will never to that infront of my kids, (i am not a fussy eater), and guess what, you can put a plate of pizza, pasta, veggies, fruit, meat, salads, infront of them and they will eat it, without forcing them, why because they were never tought that words of 'oo i dont eat that, it is the parents fault for having obise children, they just shove take aways down and the kids are placed infront of the tv or computer, they dont play outside , mine on the other hand believe it or not will rather play ourside then watch the cartoon channel. They have their 3 meals a day and they are not on any meds for ADD either, I think that us parents should intervene, put our foot down and let kids be kids again , and switch the tv off one in a while and start to cook for our selves again, instead of take aways every night. If time is little then cook over the weekend and freeze it. We are raising the children of today to be unhealthy and we must stop it, its hartbreaking to see a child half my age , but yet he weighs more then me, its scary . Sorry for letting it go but i am so tired of people that think that a tv can raise a child and that mcd is healthy

Answer 6

Whatever. I am tall and slender, and my husband is tall and muscular. We had a BIG girl, that came in at nine pounds and some change, and over 21 inches long. At 18 months, she is a chunky and tall baby girl. She is about 33 pounds. I feed her plenty of fruits and vegetables, meats, grain, and milk daily. I won't deprive my baby of food just because she is big, and I don't care how big she gets, that obviously normal for her unless it's to crazy excess (like indicative of a gland problem). But healthy baby fat is not abuse. I agree that parents need to offer their kids healthy foods, but some parents aren't educated enough to realize kids need healthy foods and not junk. The only way to get around that is breeding licenses, and that cuts into human rights...

Anyway, some kids outgrow the fat. Others just got big genes, and they are destined by genes to be big people. I don't think it's 100% the parents fault.

Answer 7

There are a lot of issues that come into play when talking about the obesity issue. First off, there is the lack of PE classes in schools. Many schools have cut PE all together or greatly reduced the time period, before a child may take PE for 45 minutes, now they may take PE for 20 minutes once or twice a week.
Also to blame are the electronics companies. I am a 32 year old male, when I was in school, if I wanted to play a video game, I had to go home after school and play it. Now, kids have Playstation portables, Nintendo DS, and at recess rather than playing tag, kickball or other games they are sitting down playing games. With that said, physical activity is probably at an all time low.
Kids who are off middle or high school age, should know better than to be eating nothing but twinkies, pasta and soft drinks. It is a double edged sword, becasue how do you change someone who does not know anything different. As someone of my age demorgaphic, I grew up with PE in school a few times per week, at recess we actaully played and although I ate the same garbage kids today eat, I managed to not be an obese child. I was active in sports after school and my portions were normal. The world is just a completely different place. Kids can not go outside and play anymore after school becasue there are so many crazy people that rape or kidnap young kids. Parents do not have the time to sit outside and watch their kids play, due to two income families, when a parent comes home from work they want to relax or get housework done. So basically kids are coming home from school, sitting down in front of the TV, playing video games and eating high fat snacks.
Schools are providing garbage for school lunches. Unfortuntely everything has become a business in this day and age. Schools would rather save money on school lunches to put money in the pockets of the adminsitration. Anyone that watched Shaq's Big Challenge, saw that the high school had a budget of $1 per student to provide a healthy lunch. So for $1 what are kids eating and what is it really made of? Shaq really changed those kids. Those kids were barely old enough to date, and they were morbidly obese weighing close to 300 pounds. He taught them to eat right, exercise and the importance of health. He took them to a doctor who basically said look if you don't lose a drastic amount of weight you will die. The common theme was they all had either parents who really were not involved, or parents who were obese themselves. So parents who are obese, don't think twice about an obese child.
Parents do play a role in the obesity issue. For example, after sports practice, can't they teach their kids to get the grilled chicken sandwich at McDonald's rather than the burger and fries? There is nothing wrong with having a treat once in a while, but as a parent myself of a seven month old, my wife and I plan to teach our daughter to make the right choices. We also plan to have home cooked meals after sports, rather than save our time and go to a drive through. Good habits defintely do start in the home.

Answer 8

Yes they are to blameFruits and vegetables are not so expensive,
Exercise is an issue though with sports costing so much- and if you let your kids go outside to play anymore you are almost accused of neglect or gross irresponsibilty for just letting them run all over. I am the only mom in my neighborhood that lets her kids go outside without me and ride bikes up and down the street and they always are frownning and looking out there windows like"Where are those kids mother" yes I check on them and keep the front door open and always are listenn for any yelling or skidding or crying but jeeze, I'd never get anything done if I stood outside and watched them all evening after school.Plus, they'd nevvver learn how to be resonsible if I am in there face every minute watching them!

MOM 5,6,14,16-oh and my 5 year old is chubby because she eats too much. She eats till she is full, like her daddy, instead of just untill she is satisfied, she eats too fast. That is my angle with her--Eat slower, chew 25 times each bite and put your fork down after you take an average(not huge) bite...we are progressing. Plus we stopped school lunches everyday--THEY SUCK

Also--My kids eat what I give them, no fussing. Have to eat their vegetables or can't leave the table and can't eat the carb without eating the veggy or fruit first. I agree that parents have complete control. If my child won't eat what I give him he still has to eat at least t he veg/fruit- eventually after a few days and some complaining they eat...

SCHOOL LUNCHES SHOULD NOT BE BOUGHT.
It is all sodium sugar and fillers. Home lunch with lots of variety so even if they pick at it it is well rounded picking....

lay off the public assistance crowd though...when they get a better situation...then judge. But 200 a month is really stretching it. You have to really make alot of hearty big pots of stuff and live off of them for weeks along with you fruits and veggies of course- and you can't afford "snacks".

Answer 9

firstly...yes. i wouldn't say "blamed" but eating habits are a LEARNED behavior..thus the children are most likely eating what mom and dad are eating, and the cycle continues.

but your little statistic of 1% only covers "glandular problems" your not accounting for the other types of disorders and deseases that cause weight gain that is not based on food intake. of course they are rare, but they are out there. and the parents of children that have these conditions are discriminated against because of the attitude you seem to have.

as the old saying goes...you catch more bees w/honey than w/vinegar. so yelling at a parent and blaming them doesn't educate them about proper nutrition...and to be perfectly frank. if it's such an inconviencance to your hard earned tax paying self...volunteer at local nutritional awareness group and HELP educate ppl instead of yelling "YOUR TO BLAME".

also...the food that is processed and eaten today is HORRIBLE, filled w/artificial sweeteners that are a HUGE cause for weight gain, even the most frugal of 'nutrition savvy' people are finding out new facts about HOW our food is processed in this day and age, and it's become a real wake up call. for example High Fructose Corn Syrup...that crap is in everything from BABY FOOD to bread...and it's been there for years...we are just now seeing the impact that has had on our bodies.

it's really hard to know what is healthy anymore...
i don't eat white bread at all anymore, because it's like shoving a piece of turkey between two candy bars, it's FULL of sugars.

i think we ALL need to re-educate ourselves about food. and we need to do a little less blaming..because like you said, as tax payers it IS ALL of our responsibility to get it under control or the next generation is doomed to short lived lives.

Answer 10

A parent can control most of what is going into their child's mouth. There are many overweight people in my family on both sides, and my mom was very careful with my brother and me. We would go to friends houses and eat all the things we weren't supposed to, but since 90% of our food came from home we were within a normal weight range and healthy.