Is it the parents' fault if a child is overweight?

Question

My brother's child has bad eating habits and they have just indulged him, so now he only eats meat and refuses to eat veg. His mother is huge (the only one in her family) - so it's probably a combination?

Answer 1

I dont think this question can be answered with a simple yes or no. Many factors need to be taken into consideration... but I do feel that the way parents teach their kids to eat (meaning from the time they start eating solids) strongly effects the way they eat when they begin making their own food choices. If you teach your kids to eat crap and snack on candy, they are going to be overweight. In that case, Yes, the parents ARE responsible. Some sweets and indulgences are okay, but not all the time... and those sweets and indulgences need to be paired with activity and exercise... not sitting in front of the TV or video games. All too often parents are raising their kids on auto-pilot, letting them eat whatever they want and do whatever they want... in those instances, YES, it is the parents fault. Instead of giving your kids soda, give them milk or juice or water. Instead of chips, give them vegetables. Instead of candy, give them fruit. Teach your kids to make good, healthy choices. Encourage them to get at least an hour outside activity.

Answer 2

It depends on how old the child is. I'd say if they're over 12, or 13 the child probably makes their own decisions on what to eat and if they should get exercise or not.

My parents rarely allow "junk food" or candy. But I've done some baby sitting in the last year or two and these 4 and 5 year olds' parents would feed these kinds hot dogs, chips, cookies and sugary drinks all day long. I love those kids but that can't be very healthy for them!

Plus the media really encourages fast food (SOOO bad for you!) and the public school systems have bad food (when I was in junior high I went to a school that only had two drink choices: milk, and chocolate milk. A lot of people think milk is good for you, but get real! It's incredibly fatty.

Answer 3

Yes absolutely, I think it is child abuse and parents who grossly overfeed their children should lose them.

My son would like to eat cookies and potato chips and drink soda all day long but I don't let him because I actually care about his health and want him to reach adulthood.

Oh, and as for not being able to keep your teenagers in good health, give me a break! It's called parenting, people. I've got a 17 year old at home. If he wants to play video games, then he has to do situps or pushups. The more he does, the more time he gets. This goes for TV time too. I also make dinner every night WITH vegetables so that I know he had at least one healthy meal every day.

Good health should be a priority. No wonder our county is full of pathetic lard butts.

Answer 4

Yes.
My sister and brother in law are both obese. I was on the phone with my sis the other day talking about breakfast - that day their 4 year old son had 4 poptarts, a bowl of ice cream and a handful of Halloween candy - all before 10 am!

Of course, his behavior is ridiculous too because he has no nutrients and is constantly sugar loaded.

*someone said the parents can't be blamed if the kid gets snacks from machines at school - but don't the parents give the kids the money for the machines? Pack you child a decent lunch and don't send them extra money for junk food.

Answer 5

It is the parents fault if a child is over-weight. A lot of times when parents are over-weight then a gene is actually carried on the the child making it easier for them to gain weight. I don't think the parents know of this but they are actually helping the child become over-weight.
Other times when parents are rich and let their child do what they want this often leads to over-weight children. They can say its not their fault but in reality it is. They are not giving him exercise and he probably does nothing but play computer games or something all day. I don't mean to be angry at you or any one else but I don't like th fact that most of the time when kids are fat it's because of the parents.

Answer 6

Yes and no.

If the parents watch them eat a lot and don't say a thing yes.

However, if the child sneaks the food and the parents don't know about it's a no.

You see, I believe that on Halloween parents should keep candy in a spot and then let the kids have two or three pieces per day.

It can not can enterily blame the parents, sometimes it is just the kids.

Answer 7

The percentage of overweight children in the United States is growing at an alarming rate. On the whole, kids are spending less time exercising and more time in front of the TV, computer, or video-game console. And today's busy families have fewer free moments to prepare nutritious, home-cooked meals, day in and day out. From fast food to electronics, quick and easy seems to be the mindset of many people, young and old, in the new millennium.

I make my boys go out side and do something, anything just for exercise

Answer 8

Yeah, I think so; especially if the child is under the age of 10. It is also very difficult when the child comes from a split home. We have this at our house and we have a very hard time trying to help the child when it is defeated after sending her back to her mothers and all she knows how to do is drive thru McDonalds everyday of the week. We try to eat healthy at our house and only eat McDonalds on a rare occasion.

lisa t

Answer 9

Unless there is some medical condition in the child the fault lies with the parents. It is a part of every parent's job to teach and model good eating & exercise habits.

Answer 10

If the cause of being overweight is simply from bad eating habits, then I would say yes but there are also medical reasons that can cause a child to be overweight.