Childhood obesity

[Elizabeth]

Liz, sounds like you have enough on your plate just getting through the day. Good luck, and I hope it's the long-term success you hope for.

Even if it make life a little easier to manage it'll hopefully be worth it. Chin up

Cheers,
Shaun

Thanks, Shaun...as to getting thru the day, what's listed is only part of what I deal with, but it's the part I hope to resolve.

 

[turtile]

I think the biggest problem is the fact that bad food is the cheapest food. Look at how much fresh fruit and vegetables cost in comparison to processed food.

The second problem is parents/school. The schools serve cheap garbage (my school used to sell hot dogs and tater tots, pizza etc.). Parents buy what is cheap and quick and may also give into what their children want. The other problem is the fact that school is too long. Kids wake up at 6AM and get home at 3PM. Gym is school is a joke. If you play a sport which takes up 3 hours+, you are so worn out you don't even want to start working on homework. It makes students want to quit sports and parents give up.

 

[Nebulous]

He's bored today.

True.

 

[Jo.]

I'm the reverse. I could eat till the cows come home and not gain a single pound. I'm the same weight I am now since I was 16.

You are who you are and you just have to make the best of it. I'd prefer putting on a few pounds.

I'm just the same - I've been trying sooo hard to get over 50 kilos but it's just not working lol. (everyone around me is telling me all the time I'm too thin and need to put weight on.. but try as I might, it just doesn't work!)

 

[jmurrayhead]

I'm just the same - I've been trying sooo hard to get over 50 kilos (I'm about 5ft 7) but it's just not working lol. (everyone around me is telling me all the time I'm too thin and need to put weight on.. but try as I might, it just doesn't work!)

There were a few times in my life where I was too thin. 6' tall and 130 lbs. In high school I was able to get up to 160 just from eating right and working out. Now, it's not a problem any more. I just eat and drink beer, been pretty stable at 176 lbs

 

[Jo.]

There were a few times in my life where I was too thin. 6' tall and 130 lbs. In high school I was able to get up to 160 just from eating right and working out. Now, it's not a problem any more. I just eat and drink beer, been pretty stable at 176 lbs

Yeah, I've tried everything I can think of. I've always been pretty active - gymnastics, horse-riding, hockey, swimming etc. and I try to eat really well, but I can't seem to put weight on. It's way easier for me to lose weight than put it on. I did used to be anorexic though so I guess that didn't help matters... but that's not the case anymore.

Maybe it runs in my family. My mum was only 7.5 stone when she was fully pregnant with me!!!

 

[jmurrayhead]

Yeah, I've tried everything I can think of. I've always been pretty active - gymnastics, horse-riding, hockey, swimming etc. and I try to eat really well, but I can't seem to put weight on. It's way easier for me to lose weight than put it on. I did used to be anorexic though so I guess that didn't help matters... but that's not the case anymore.

Maybe it runs in my family. My mum was only 7.5 stone when she was fully pregnant with me!!!

Indeed, just like those who have problems losing the weight, there is also those of us who struggled to put it on. Genetics can sure be a ***** some times!

 

[Peggy]

I think the biggest problem is the fact that bad food is the cheapest food. Look at how much fresh fruit and vegetables cost in comparison to processed food.

The second problem is parents/school. The schools serve cheap garbage (my school used to sell hot dogs and tater tots, pizza etc.). Parents buy what is cheap and quick and may also give into what their children want. The other problem is the fact that school is too long. Kids wake up at 6AM and get home at 3PM. Gym is school is a joke. If you play a sport which takes up 3 hours+, you are so worn out you don't even want to start working on homework. It makes students want to quit sports and parents give up.

It was that way when I was in school too, and even when my daughter was in school as recently as 6 years ago.
But with my son it's a different story. In his school district here in NE Ohio (keep in mind that he's in elementary school!), the kids have a salad bar, soup bar, fresh fruit, fresh hot veggies, pasta salads, milk and fresh juices, REAL chicken, not that breaded processed crap, etc. Drinking lots of spring water is encouraged, not "purified" or distilled water.

I'm very happy with the school meals here.

 

[dutchbb]

Childhood obesity. Who is to blame for it? The parents? Television? School lunches? Other?

Parents 100%. Kids need boundaries. The problem is that obesity seems to go from one generation to the other now, and this even changes genes making it even harder to keep the fat off / lose weight for the next generations.

 

[Digital Doctor]

Re: Childhood obesity.

It's mostly an eating problem.
More activity will only help a bit.
Parents do buy the groceries, pack the lunches, and cook the dinners.

 

[Peggy]

Re: Childhood obesity.

It's mostly an eating problem.
More activity will only help a bit.
Parents do buy the groceries, pack the lunches, and cook the dinners.

Mostly an eating problem? maybe...
But not always.

 

[Anthony Parsons]

Who's to blame? We all are to blame... as society in general has become so lazy that we just go to the nearest store and buy our annual fat intake in biscuits, shakes, burgers, etc. Food is in abundance... that is not healthy in itself.

Very few people actually have a medical disorder for weight out of those who are obese, and I do mean very few.

My mother and two sisters are all obese, whilst the rest of us are all healthy weights, fit, etc... Why? They all tell us the same nonsense, being they diet, diet, diet. The moment you turn your back though, they have consumed an entire packet of chocolate biscuits and then swear that it doesn't contribute. They have zero mental power to actually stop eating junk food, because its so tasty. The world of greed is what we are all consumed within... just look closely next time you walk down your supermarket isle. Pancakes in a bottle... just add water, shake and pour... pancakes in minutes... then if you actually realise the fat content of those, eating them you would be over-weight within a month, especially if you then add butter / margarine, toppings in general. Biscuits... nearly all fat.

We walk out our door and get into a car... we park as close as possible to where we need to go in order to save time from any type of walking. The world has progressively become lazier and lazier... and as adults, our kids mimic what we do.

This IMHO has a whole lot more to do with childhood obesity than just parents, schools, influences, etc. I used to always make my kids eat healthy... but the moment they go out with their mates, burgers, fries, etc... its all available and tastes great. There is no moderation any more.

 

[Elizabeth]

Fat is not the bad guy as we need fat to live. It's excessive fat, and the wrong kind. Butter is actually good for you compared to most "butter spreads" because it is a natural food...as are eggs, etc. As with everything, it's moderation.

Fats, or lipids, are a class of foods that have gained much attention over the last several years. The general assumption is that all fats are bad or unhealthy, but this is not true. Fats from the right sources are an integral part of a healthy diet. Fats contribute a significant amount of energy to our food. In the appropriate quantities and types, fats will provide much of the energy needed to get us through the day. Additionally, they support and cushion our internal organs, protecting them from harm. Fats are also responsible for regulating body temperature, insulating us from the cold. Finally, they are necessary for the proper absorption of some integral vitamins, namely A, D, E and K.

They have also discovered that going low carb versus low fat is better for your cholesterol and as a result, your heart.
Weight and Metabolic Outcomes After 2 Years on a Low-Carbohydrate Versus Low-Fat Diet

Results: Weight loss was approximately 11 kg (11%) at 1 year and 7 kg (7%) at 2 years. There were no differences in weight, body composition, or bone mineral density between the groups at any time point. During the first 6 months, the low-carbohydrate diet group had greater reductions in diastolic blood pressure, triglyceride levels, and very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, lesser reductions in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, and more adverse symptoms than did the low-fat diet group. The low-carbohydrate diet group had greater increases in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels at all time points, approximating a 23% increase at 2 years.

Low-Carb Diets Improve Cholesterol Long Term - Low-Carb Diet Edges Out Low-Fat Diet in Raising 'Good' Cholesterol

 

[Anthony Parsons]

Studies and nonsense on the web is getting a bit hard to believe these days... because for every study they present, there is another saying something different. Its then left to the person to pick and choose which they present to base their arguments upon.

 

[Elizabeth]

Studies and nonsense on the web is getting a bit hard to believe these days... because for every study they present, there is another saying something different. Its then left to the person to pick and choose which they present to base their arguments upon.

That's why I don't post just any study I locate but those from valid, HonCode medical sites, usually medical journals.

But then again, these are the same people that today are telling us to eat eggs and 10 years okay, they told us eggs were bad for us.

 

[Anthony Parsons]

Yep... and next year will change their mind again. I subscribe to medical journals... and I wouldn't say they are actually even valid nowadays, and many studies, especially anything to do with pharmacology / diet, is usually funded by the companies making the products. Very few studies I have found actually aren't biased... and I mean very few. The moment you introduce controls is the same moment you bias a study from producing realistic results vs. what they want them to produce within this limited medical scope.

I'd stick with commonsense and moderation to be perfectly honest, mixed with daily exercise and healthy eating in small portions.

 

[MilesDB]

I'd stick with commonsense and moderation to be perfectly honest, mixed with daily exercise and healthy eating in small portions.

That beats any fancy diet. One doesn't even have to exercise daily. Just 2-3 times a week will do the job. And no need to change your diet. Eating less is sufficient.

 

[steven s]

Come on guys. The OP is just spamming.
I noticed his 10 month old posts bumped on vb.com.
IF you wish to discuss, that is one thing I guess.
But it's pretty clear the OP is only promoting his ipb forum.

 

[Peggy]

I wish to discuss, as do other people from what I can see.

 

[steven s]

I wish to discuss, as do other people from what I can see.

Then that's OK.
Just as long as people realize it is probably not the intent of the OP to raise social awareness.


Continue discussion.