Who's To Blame For A Surge In Childhood Obesity? Members Weigh In

   By drodriguez  Jun 16, 2011
6

The growing rate of obesity in children is a real concern in this country. The CDC reports that the childhood obesity rate has tripled from the years 1980 – 2008. Before we can come up with a solution to the problem of childhood obesity, it is important that we understand why the rate has risen so dramatically over the last 30 years.

A recent SheSpeaks poll found that most of us, 74 percent, believe parents are to blame. We feel that many parents are not teaching their children healthy eating habits.

Member Woobie101 has this to say:

“Children learn by example. If you are an obese parent, chances are that you will have obese children. Smart food choices should start at  an early age. Limit junk food and teach your children to choose healthy snacks, like fruit and vegetables. Have bite sized carrots, celery, cranberries, blueberries and other child sized foods readily available for them. They’ll soon be asking for them instead of unhealthy foods. It’s never too late to start either. Remember to keep the junk food out of the house. If its not in front of them they’ll get used to it not being around.”

Another 17 percent of us think the companies that produce and market high-calorie snacks are more to blame for the high rate of childhood obesity.

Whether the problem lies at home, with companies, or a combination of both – the seriousness of childhood obesity is real. Children who suffer from obesity face health risks like bone and joint problems, sleep apnea, and poor self-esteem. The more long term risks are even more serious like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, different types of cancer, stroke, and osteoarthristis.

Do you agree with our members and blame parents for the growing childhood obesity rate?

Tell us what you do to keep your kids healthy!
 

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Comments
tokoolmom by tokoolmom | Decatur, AL
Jun 16, 2011

I beleive the parent.

thecaffeinecoquette by thecaffeinecoquette | WORCESTER, MA
Jun 16, 2011

I think blaming the food industry is only masking the problem. It's the parents who BUY the food advertised. There's no escaping our duty to healthy eating habits in our children.

didama by didama | MAPLEWOOD, NJ
Jun 16, 2011

I think children learn their eating habits from their parents. I'll try & remember that next time I eat a bag of chips in front of my kids!

scentednights by scentednights | CASTLETON, VT
Jun 16, 2011

I agree that it's the parent's fault. Young children don't have their own spending money. They don't grocery shop. They eat what the parents are bringing into the house or what the parents are allowing them to buy at school. I think it's awful to see parents letting their kids have a steady diet of soda, foods loaded with high fructose corn syrup and fast food. With parents eating the same garbage, it's not really surprising. As parents we need to model a healthy lifestyle. That means we need to eat healthy and exercise. If our kids see us eating McDonalds and drinking Coke while being couch potatoes in front of the TV, what are they going to do? We limit unhealthy snacks and encourage exercise and we model that behavior for our kids to see as well.

COOKIESANDCREAM by COOKIESANDCREAM | NEW YORK, NY
Jun 16, 2011

I believe parents are to blame as well as the industries. Kids these days dont even know what real food taste like.I've been watching alot of food documentations like food inc etc and also Jamie Olivers food revolution and it shows that we let the industrie control what we eat. Parents should be more active in school and change the unhealthy lunches.And also stop beeing lazy with dinners..instead of chicken nuggets u can actually steam a bag of vegtables in the microwave within 2 to 4 minutes,some grilled chicken and brown rice and u good to go.And no its not that much more expensive. It's discusting to see that 5 year old kids are so big that they can barely walk,or have diabetes or heart problems. Food industries produce alot of bad stuff but at the end if nobody would buy it they would change it into better choices. I also think all the sugar is what makes so many children have crazy uncontrolled behavior.

ksstar99 by ksstar99 | Howell, MI
Jun 16, 2011

I agree that parents should take most of the blame. Friends of my kids have the worst habits. They come over with treats that I would only give my kids on rare occassions yet they eat them all the time. I'm talking about bags of gummy worms, sugar sticks, & other gas station 'stuff' that just makes me gag! Some of the kids drink energy drinks already! I even had a 10 year old look at me like I was crazy when I offered carrots to all the kids who were over. He was the only one to refuse!