Why are there so many fat children in this country?

Question

Do you blame parents or advertising?

Answer 1

I would have to say the parents. Young kids may see the advertisements on TV, but their parents have to drive them to the store/drive thru to get it. Medical reasons are the only exception that I see.

Answer 2

I used to blame the parents - and to some degree, I still do.

Out of the 5 people in my family, 4 of us are skinny. As in, 2 of the kids wear clothes sizes 2 sizes smaller than for their age. And the oldest? She's obese. And yes, we are watching what she eats. And we exercise (we hike a lot and geocache (treasure hunting with GPS unit). We don't frequent fast food places too often. She drinks (and prefers) water. We're looking at medical issues right now - but no telling.

It's heartbreaking because everything I do, I do for my children - even at my own expense. So why can't I control THIS?

Please, the next time you see an obese kids, don't automatically think the parents are horrible, uncaring people.

One thing that shocked us completely was the supposedly "nutritious" food they serve. 500-750 calories for lunch? WHAT? And they are required to serve every item. The last time I ate a school lunch, I about choked on the salt content. We started doing our own healthy lunches - and that rocked.

Answer 3

Well its partly cus parents fear the so many pervets taking and killing kids out there or video games so children are inside alot. Another reason is working parents and the only thing to get sometimes when both of you are too dam tired to cookis fast food. Plus I do blame parents of the really over weight children. They buy all this food and let the kids just go through it in a day and then they sit there. And its not that they are eating healthy they eat crap food.

Answer 4

both are to blame. I would't say it's all one or the other. When I grew up they had the same commericals, and sold the same crap. I think more of it is children's lifestyles. They had video games when I was a kid, too, so I don't think it's all that either. I think alot of it is kids aren't allowed to roam around the neighborhoods as much as they could 20 yrs ago. we parents are much more protective of our kids now than my parents were. If i was in the house on a nice day, my mom would tell me to go outside and play. Parents now adays actually have to be careful letting their kids out all day bc of drugs, perverts, kidnappers, etc. i think it is more society than anything

Answer 5

Parents...ads don't actually feed the kids. When I was growing up I lived in the counrty on 50 acres and I was never fat. Cartoons ONLY came on the tube on Saturday until like 12 or 1pm. It's all day now! I didn't get a walkman til I was 13...I didn't get a video game console til I was 18. I love being outdoors!

Answer 6

Companies/advertisement agencies can push whatever product they want at us...WE are the ones who decide whether or not to buy.

It's no secret that fast food, pre-packaged, and processed foods are bad for us and for our children. By continuing to buy these items, parents are making a conscious choice to put their children's health/weight at risk.

On top of the poor diet many kids are eating, consider the fact that children are sitting on their behinds all day watching TV and playing video/computer games.

Answer 7

You can't blame advertising. That's idiotic.

I blame a lack of education, lack of concern on the parents behalf, bad habits, no more PE in schools, and too much TV and video games.

In the end, it is up to the parents to feed their children healthy foods and instill good habits in them.

Answer 8

LAZY parents!!!

I think most overweight children eat out too often, and don't get enough home cooked meals. Both working parents put their careers before their children's well being and would rather not cook after a long day working. Such a shame

Answer 9

I blame both. Parents usually just give in to the kid to keep them happy and quiet and there's so many commercials these days that make fast food look good on t.v.

Answer 10

It is the parents fault for overfeeding their child and for allowing a couch potato lifestyle. The only exception would be if the child has a medical condition that promotes weight gain in which case the parent should do their best to restrict it, but if it happens, it isn't their fault.