Childhood obesity - who is to blame?

Question

and what do we do about it?

Why do people keep moaning about Jamie Oliver, I respect what he did immensely!

Answer 1

Good question .. with some children it is genetic .. however i tend to swing to the belief that is the parents fault ..

Afterall we are the primary care givers and we are the ones who control their diets

Jamie oliver brought into the public eye the poor diets our children were eating at schools and as a result school meals are now healthier..

Although many children do not eat them . .which is a shame ..
For some kids school dinners are the only balanced meal they have ..

I am always encouraging my chilldren to eat healthy and sometimes it is impossible to provide a balanced healthy meal . due to for example time ..

I am learning to produce healthier meals which are more appealing to my kids ..

If i could not be bothered then my children could quite easily be obesse ..

I am more disciplined in my shopping and do not purchase as much convience foods and junk

We as parents need to take more control over our childrens diets and promote healthier eating

Answer 2

Parents without a doubt. They sit their kids in front of the TV and stuff them with junk. Also, healthy foods are more expensive than fast food so that's just adding fuel to the flame. If you can't afford to provide your kids with a healthy lifestyle then you failed as a parent. But most people aren't willing to tell a parent that because they'll just get on the defensive. Spend more time with your kids instead of letting the TV fill their head with mindless garbage. Get your fat as* up off of the computer and exercise with your kids (also known as quality time). Give them fruit instead of sweets. Tell them no when they whine for Micky D's or KFC. And wow! Here's a crazy idea: if you don't like the food that schools provide, why not pack a lunch?(I guess because that would require more effort from parents and we could never ask that!) Be a parent before your kid croaks at 21 of diabetes.

Answer 3

The simple answer is the parents, who give in to their child's demands.
Advertisers must also shoulder some of the blame - ads for goodies clearly aimed at kids. Peer pressure is another factor.
Other factors include lack of exercise - kids sitting about watching TV, playing computer games instead of out playing with their pals.
Society itself is partly to blame - part of the reason kids no longer have the same freedom to play outside is because parents are terrified that something will happen to them.
What can we do? What Jamie Oliver has been trying so hard to do - change their eating habits, make healthy eating "cool". Target them young - more advice for young mothers on healthy eating. More "active" kid's clubs, plenty of exercise at school and more emphasise on healthy school dinners. Less advertising aimed at kids.

Answer 4

I can't understand the moaning either. He suggested healthier menus in schools, the government said OK and surprise, surprise, kids are digging their heals in - that's what kids do, any parent knows that. I hope the government sit it out and somewhere down the line, healthy food will be the norm in schools.

I would have to lay the blame of childhood obesity on parents. We are the ones who first introduce food to our children and therefore set the trend. Whether identifying who's to blame solves the problem, I don't know.

Answer 5

I doubt very much that a school meal contributed in any way, shape or form to childhood obesity. Have you ever seen how much is put on a school plate? Not much.
It is the parents who are to blame for their children's health. And they are the ones who should be educated to do so. But then, many parents today are totally inadequate.

Answer 6

Back in my day, an hour of daily Physical Education was mandatory. Athletics were highly encouraged by the schools.
Than the liberal educators started getting wrong headed.
The schools are underachieving at academics, health, sex education, and civics. We should know better!

Answer 7

Parents. They don't do enough to monitor what their children eat and force them to go out and play rather than sitting inside playing video games all day. Parents need to be the parent and stop trying to always be the friend.

Answer 8

Mc Donalds.

Answer 9

There is first of all the parents that are at fault restricting the foods kids eat especially fast food and getting your kids involved in physicall activity.

Answer 10

Same people who are to blame that children aren't getting educated ... parents.