Bigger isn't always better
Bigger isn’t always better
Obesity in children is a very serious issue. It is also a very worrying topic which involves a negative and critical eye being cast upon that of parents.
It is within a child’s nature to want to run and jump and be active and energetic. So, why is that so many children are now suffering from obesity and as a result, are moving into their teenage years with illnesses such as asthma, high blood pressure and back pains(especially for woman as the increase in fat ‘causes their chest to grow, which can develop severe back pains and further onto more serious conditions).
Is it really the parents? Or is it society? Or is it both? Or is it neither?
Firstly, you need to know what obesity is, before you pass judgement on anyone. In children, obesity is the increase and storage of body fat which causes extreme negative effects on the youthful body. This increase, if left undetected or if undisturbed by positive reinforcements such as exercise and healthy eating, can lead to children developing life threatening illnesses e.g. diabetes, high blood pressure, heart problems and cancer.
However, there is a high chance that a child develops neither of these disorders, but they do start to attack their own bodies in harmful ways such as becoming bulimic, anorexic or turning to self mutilation. If childhood isn’t hard enough as it is, how do you think an obese child feels when they are being bullied by others?
Obesity in children is most likely caused by a poor diet, but may also be a genetic condition, a psychological aftermath or a way of gaining attention. If the fact of the matter is a genetic condition, then a critical eye should not fall upon parents. The same can be said for it being a psychological aftermath or attention seeking.
So when do we blame the parents?
We should pass judgement, if you are that sort of person, when you witness a parent failing to intervene with the obesity cycle. Some parents are just so easy going, that they fail to recognise how spoiled their children are. They shower their children in sweets, cakes, soft drinks, take away foods and home made greasy foods.
Then what do they do ?
They buy their child that Nintendo DS for 200euro and allow them to sit on the couch all day. They buy them the new Wii and accompany it with 3 games that provide no physical motivation.
Why aren’t they buying them that new bike? Or that nice football? Or even that pair of skates?
Why aren’t they buying them something that promotes activity and movement? Not only does it help a child stay fit, but it increases their mental development as well as social development.
I just don’t understand why parents fail to try. Not all parents fail or ignore, of course. But some have planted in their minds that “Oh.. He has a healthy apatite.” No he doesn’t. Eating sweets, cakes, biscuits and sitting in front of the telly all day isn’t healthy. It’s disgusting!
Please - if you ever become a parent please, watch your child’s physical development. Keep them safe from the hardships they may face.
-Fionn[xxx]
Obesity in children is a very serious issue. It is also a very worrying topic which involves a negative and critical eye being cast upon that of parents.
It is within a child’s nature to want to run and jump and be active and energetic. So, why is that so many children are now suffering from obesity and as a result, are moving into their teenage years with illnesses such as asthma, high blood pressure and back pains(especially for woman as the increase in fat ‘causes their chest to grow, which can develop severe back pains and further onto more serious conditions).
Is it really the parents? Or is it society? Or is it both? Or is it neither?
Firstly, you need to know what obesity is, before you pass judgement on anyone. In children, obesity is the increase and storage of body fat which causes extreme negative effects on the youthful body. This increase, if left undetected or if undisturbed by positive reinforcements such as exercise and healthy eating, can lead to children developing life threatening illnesses e.g. diabetes, high blood pressure, heart problems and cancer.
However, there is a high chance that a child develops neither of these disorders, but they do start to attack their own bodies in harmful ways such as becoming bulimic, anorexic or turning to self mutilation. If childhood isn’t hard enough as it is, how do you think an obese child feels when they are being bullied by others?
Obesity in children is most likely caused by a poor diet, but may also be a genetic condition, a psychological aftermath or a way of gaining attention. If the fact of the matter is a genetic condition, then a critical eye should not fall upon parents. The same can be said for it being a psychological aftermath or attention seeking.
So when do we blame the parents?
We should pass judgement, if you are that sort of person, when you witness a parent failing to intervene with the obesity cycle. Some parents are just so easy going, that they fail to recognise how spoiled their children are. They shower their children in sweets, cakes, soft drinks, take away foods and home made greasy foods.
Then what do they do ?
They buy their child that Nintendo DS for 200euro and allow them to sit on the couch all day. They buy them the new Wii and accompany it with 3 games that provide no physical motivation.
Why aren’t they buying them that new bike? Or that nice football? Or even that pair of skates?
Why aren’t they buying them something that promotes activity and movement? Not only does it help a child stay fit, but it increases their mental development as well as social development.
I just don’t understand why parents fail to try. Not all parents fail or ignore, of course. But some have planted in their minds that “Oh.. He has a healthy apatite.” No he doesn’t. Eating sweets, cakes, biscuits and sitting in front of the telly all day isn’t healthy. It’s disgusting!
Please - if you ever become a parent please, watch your child’s physical development. Keep them safe from the hardships they may face.
-Fionn[xxx]
Comments
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You don't need money to excercise ._. And Australia I'm pretty sure isn't in a recession so that isn't the situation here...
Demolition Lover, December 9th, 2008 at 08:41:22am
oh okay
now i got it
Rain, November 30th, 2008 at 11:41:02pm
I don't have a problem.
I'm able to express my opinions, too, aren't I? But I just think it's hard to be right when really, there are many influences explaining why kids are obese.
But my parents aren't one of them, is all I'm saying.
Shorty of Suburbia, November 30th, 2008 at 11:39:08pm
whats your problem shorty
were just doing our opinion and you think all of the opinions are wrong
Rain, November 30th, 2008 at 11:36:29pm
Alright, you think whatever.
I was always a fat kid, that's what I am. I don't blame my parents. I don't care if you blame parents, I don't blame mine.
Shorty of Suburbia, November 30th, 2008 at 10:58:30pm
I kinda blame the parents and society
I blame the parents for not caring about there kids health until they die or something. Or the parents are too lazy to help their kids eat the right way and doing the right thing like execrising and such.
With the socitey now a days your hated for being fat, loved and hated for being skinny. and Hated if your being anorexic. I dont know. I do agree about the fast food and the techonology making us all lazy. Its simiular to Farehient 451 and such. I do see the comparasion.
But really sometimes i like to think the whole Human race should be blamed. I mean really we choose to live like this. We choose to eat and gorge ourself to diabetes and such and also death. Sometimes I wish it was like back in my grandparents era and such.
Rain, November 30th, 2008 at 08:03:51pm
A 6 year old kid doesn't have the capability of understanding internet o technology. They just know they enjoy these things.
I blame the parents when they fail to pull their child away from technology.
Carlisle., November 30th, 2008 at 07:01:59pm
I blame society, actually. With the expansion of fast foods, and all of this new technology sh*t that requires us to just be lazy.
I can't blame my parents. Back when they were teenagers, they were thin and beautiful. Now, with everything the way it is, we have TV and computers and sh*t, they never had that. Only my generation grew up with it, they didn't. It's not their fault, it's this McDonalds and Burger King that keeps expanding, and all of this new stuff coming out- Like iphones, satellite TV, internet- That keeps kids from doing physical things, and staying inside and becoming pasty.
Maybe it's because kids don't get enough education on personal health. With all of these budget cuts, schools cut important classes, like health and phy ed.
So, really, there could be a lot of reasons why kids are obese. We can't point fingers at the parents, because they grew up without all of these things that make us lazy. At the same time, society is OBSESSED with flaunting perfection; rail thin people, with today's best clothes, and it sucks when half this country is obese, and yet they continue to tell us that we have to be perfect to be happy.
So, what it all comes down to, is that the world is f*cked up and contradicting itself.
So there.
Shorty of Suburbia, November 30th, 2008 at 06:25:23pm
Viva La Gloria, schools do not provide enough excersise at all. Particularly in Ireland. At the moment, Ireland is going through a resession which means all of our money is is being crunched. Schools have been forced to drop Physical Education because they can't afford to pay for it. They've also had to drop schooloutings, particuler subjects and they even had to drop 4th year, which is the most productive and self finding year in all of a child's education.
As for the games, if they picked up a football or a skipping rope, or something activie, they wouldn't be bored. But this generation of children are being surrounded by "sit on the chair" activities.
Carlisle., November 30th, 2008 at 01:55:44pm
I'm not fat or obese or anything, but my god do I need to stop eating so much sh*t.
And Australia is only fattest country because we're alot smaller than the US, so we have a lot of obese people for our size.
Also, we have a bunch of prude old men working for the government making sure teachers go around to every little kiddies lunchbox and making sure mummy didn't pack a Snickers.
germma margaret!, November 30th, 2008 at 01:25:54pm
Ahhhh...obesity arguements annoy me. Apparently, Australia is the fattest country in the world. I have a very unhealthy diet and it's very uppy-downy like somedays I'll eat nothing and the next i'll eat 3 Big Macs and I wanna be sick. I can't taste sugar unless there is a cup full of it in whatever I'm drinking/eating. But, I'm not fat. Like I'm a bit chubby but that runs in the family. Usually if a kid is obsese there parents are too. So I just blame it on the parents. Oh and I think alot of the electronic games give kids something to do so they're not bored and going to the fridge evry 5 minutes. Schools make you do enough sport and excercise anyway...
Demolition Lover, November 30th, 2008 at 07:09:46am
Blame parents if you become overweight before you hit 10, >_> I cannot understand how parents don't worry about their child that is capable of inhaling a Big Mac faster than they can.
I ate a ton of crap and got pretty porky when I was little, whenever I whined about something my mother told me to go get a snack. O_O It did not fare too well.
Who Stole My Pants?, November 30th, 2008 at 06:44:24am
eh... i've seen your pictures... your not obese...
Carlisle., November 30th, 2008 at 02:59:45am
i'm obese.
it's 'cause i'd rather sit on my FATass & listen to some random punk band than to go work out.
hahaha, but i could care less.
Imma Boombox :D, November 30th, 2008 at 02:53:28am
Don't forget guys that if you have a bit of fat, your not obese.
http://www.dietpower.com/help/diet/obe se__how_to_tell_if_you_re.htm
That may help you to figure out what your weight is.
Carlisle., November 29th, 2008 at 11:08:18pm