Obesity in children

[Russ]

http://www.people.co.uk/news/tm_obje...name_page.html

Now y'see, this is one thing that annoys me. You have the parents shrugging their shoulders saying the problem is 'genetic', yet they encourage her to eat pies, chips, chocolates etc.

At age six, she weighed 10st and was soon gobbling a whole packet of chocolate biscuits on her way to school

But we were just eating a lot as a family. I was cooking for six so I always did the quickest, easiest thing

No, it is not genetic, it's partially the fact that the parents are too willing the shift the blame from themselves and partially due to the fact that one certain hole is bigger than another certain hole.....*


*Gag nicked from Jasper Carrott

poor girl

As someone who has never been more than 10 stone in my life, I find it hard to imagine what it must be like to weigh that much.

I agree that the parents have to take a huge slice of the responsibility, continuing to feed their children such an unhealthy diet, when they knew it was having such an effect on them, is bordering on cruelty.

Unfortunately, now she is so overweight, it is going to be very difficult to 'turn it round', it is very hard (and potentially dangerous) for obese people to exercise to the extent they are actually burning significant calories.

- and I can also understand why a 22 stone, 13 year old girl would be shy of going to the gym or a swimming pool.

There may be some medical reasons for her problem too, such as an underactive thyroid gland, lets hope that now she is under medical supervision, that something can be done to help her.

[Halcyon]

The parents are to blame, but so is the vast world of advertsising which is throwing sweets, fizzy drinks, and other unhealthy foods in our faces. Plus then there is the marketing ploy of associating the food with a cartoon charactar to sell more items and have children begging for that happy meal so that they can get hold of that latest toy freebie.

On the parents side, I think that they really should do much more.
I remember catching the bus in the morning and seeing children eating crisps and chocolate bars.
Firstly this is disgusting to see it being eaten at this time, and it is also very unhealthy. You'd think the parents would make sure their children had a proper breakfast and some fruit juice.

Another thing is also the fact that although many things taste nice and kids go crazy about them, they contain millions of artificial flavourings and fattening substances. Roasted barbecue flavoured crisps. Prawn coctail ?
What a load of rubbish. All made up of flavourings and additives.
These are not good for you at all.

[philip.j.fry]

But we were just eating a lot as a family. I was cooking for six so I always did the quickest, easiest thing

I think that that's actually a fallacy. If everyone is eating the same thing it's just as easy cooking for six as it is cooking for one (in some ways easier). Simple relatively healthy foods like chilli, salads, grilled chicken, casseroles etc don't actually require all that much effort to prepare, it's just laziness that causes so many people just to buy horribly unnutritious preprepared meals. I think that's fine if it's just for yourself but when you're cooking for others, especially children, a little more thought and effort is required.

Originally Posted by philip.j.fry

I think that that's actually a fallacy. If everyone is eating the same thing it's just as easy cooking for six as it is cooking for one (in some ways easier). Simple relatively healthy foods like chilli, salads, grilled chicken, casseroles etc don't actually require all that much effort to prepare, it's just laziness that causes so many people just to buy horribly unnutritious preprepared meals. I think that's fine if it's just for yourself but when you're cooking for others, especially children, a little more thought and effort is required.

yes, I know people who only either fry things or use the microwave. Often cooking 'proper' meals just requires planning, rather than being inconvenient. It's not difficult to stick a casserole in the oven on a low heat in the morning & have it ready for tea time, for example. Some of the products the company I work for produces, need cooking in the oven - you'd be amazed how many people phone to complain because it will take 35 minutes in the oven, rather than 10 in the microwave.

There are 'healthy' pre-prepared meals available, I've been having some of the M&S low fat 'steamers' meals, recently e.g. 'Mexican Chicken' is just chicken, rice, kidney beans, spinach, peppers, onion & chilli. The trouble is they are relatively expensive at around £3.50 for one person. (we get them half price in our company shop) - not viable for a family of 6, really.

But, adding crisps, biscuits, chocolate & fizzy drinks onto a diet of chips & sausages & burgers, etc, is just asking for trouble.

[etccarmageddon]

it's obvious this girl has an addiction to food which should be dealt with as other addicts are.

Originally Posted by etccarmageddon

it's obvious this girl has an addiction to food which should be dealt with as other addicts are.

there has been research which tends to suggest that sugar & fat, especially, can be addictive

http://www.bupa.co.uk/health_informa...0703addic.html

there are some ideas for managing this, in the link

[philip.j.fry]

Originally Posted by homealone

There are 'healthy' pre-prepared meals available, I've been having some of the M&S low fat 'steamers' meals, recently e.g. 'Mexican Chicken' is just chicken, rice, kidney beans, spinach, peppers, onion & chilli. The trouble is they are relatively expensive at around £3.50 for one person. (we get them half price in our company shop) - not viable for a family of 6, really.

That price is pretty disgusting, but thanks for giving me an idea of what to cook for lunch

[Xaccers]

I live with obese parents.
Mum's got diabetes because of it, dad unfortunately doesn't.
I say unfortunately because Mum knows that if there are buscuits and cakes in the house, she'll end up eating them, not good for her, so if she goes shopping during the week, she doesn't buy them (dad work's away during the week).
If they go out at weekends shopping, he'll throw in all sorts of sweet things that she shouldn't have saying "Why should I suffer because you can't have them? There's nothing wrong with me"
Dad's cholestorol is fine, his blood sugar is fine (mum used to test him but stopped when he started using the results as justification for eating cakes)
I've even tried getting him on the atkins diet so he can eat enough to not go hungry but still lose weight but he's just not bothered.
He won't cook in the evenings, if mum and I sit waiting, eventually he'll make himself a sandwich or something, but won't think of anyone else, and if mum doesn't do him large portions, he complains that he's still empty, but now he's turned that round to say it's her fault he's overweight because she gives such large portions and apparently moans if he doesn't clear his plate (which is rubbish)
It's depressing to think that at 15 stone (I've got a lot of heavy chest hair, honest ) I'm the lightest in our family.
I suppose on the bright side, I'm not going to have to wait so long for my inheritance...

Obese people are very good at coming up with reasons for their weight problems other than their own intake of food and lack of exercise.

[Jerrek]

You will never have weight problems if you

- eliminate ALL animal products from your diet, or severely restrict it to less than 2% of your diet
- eliminate ALL white sugar, sucrose, high fructure syrup, and so on...
- eliminate ALL processed foods, including white breads, white pasta, white rice
- eliminate ALL sugary drinks, including coke, or high-energy crap that athletes drink
- eliminate anything with a preservative, colorant, flavorant, etc.
- eliminate anything with an ingredient you can't identify or pronounce
- exercise

I don't consume any of the above, and neither will my children. Fiber is prevents grains from spiking blood sugar and causing a rush of insulin. White breads, rice, and pasta are identical to sugar: It hits the body, is absorbed VERY fast, spikes the blood sugar level, causes a rush of insulin, and goes to your waist.

I will also not be driving my children to school or to the bus stop. Walk. It is good for you.

Instead, I'll encourage everyone to eat as much fruit and vegetables as they want. The more the better. It is good for you.


In adults, you have no one but yourself to blame. Deal with it. BUT, with children, who eat what they are fed, this is a shame. This borders child abuse, or at the very least gross negligence.

Originally Posted by Jerrek

You will never have weight problems if you

- eliminate ALL animal products from your diet, or severely restrict it to less than 2% of your diet
- eliminate ALL white sugar, sucrose, high fructure syrup, and so on...
- eliminate ALL processed foods, including white breads, white pasta, white rice
- eliminate ALL sugary drinks, including coke, or high-energy crap that athletes drink
- eliminate anything with a preservative, colorant, flavorant, etc.
- eliminate anything with an ingredient you can't identify or pronounce
- exercise

I don't consume any of the above, and neither will my children. Fiber is prevents grains from spiking blood sugar and causing a rush of insulin. White breads, rice, and pasta are identical to sugar: It hits the body, is absorbed VERY fast, spikes the blood sugar level, causes a rush of insulin, and goes to your waist.

I will also not be driving my children to school or to the bus stop. Walk. It is good for you.

Instead, I'll encourage everyone to eat as much fruit and vegetables as they want. The more the better. It is good for you.


In adults, you have no one but yourself to blame. Deal with it. BUT, with children, who eat what they are fed, this is a shame. This borders child abuse, or at the very least gross negligence.

re the white bread/rice/pasta, you could 'get away with' replacing the missing fibre with e.g. oatmeal - but in general I totally agree with you.

"Instead, I'll encourage everyone to eat as much fruit and vegetables as they want. The more the better. It is good for you."

Are these the ones full of insectisides? sooner have a bacon butty and a big mug of tea anytime thanks.
By the way, an active man needs at least 90 gs of fat per day to survive.
All in moderation I say.

[Paul M]

Originally Posted by Jerrek

<snip>

Instead, I'll encourage everyone to eat as much fruit and vegetables as they want. The more the better. It is good for you.

In adults, you have no one but yourself to blame. Deal with it. BUT, with children, who eat what they are fed, this is a shame. This borders child abuse, or at the very least gross negligence.

and what if your/the children don't want to eat fruit & vegatables - are you going to force them ?

Originally Posted by arcamalpha2004

"Instead, I'll encourage everyone to eat as much fruit and vegetables as they want. The more the better. It is good for you."

Are these the ones full of insectisides? sooner have a bacon butty and a big mug of tea anytime thanks.
By the way, an active man needs at least 90 gs of fat per day to survive.
All in moderation I say.

'he' doesn't 'need' the fat - but we all need essential fatty acids, eating 90g a day of lard would not fulfil that, though

- and 'all in moderation' is agreed, a mixed and varied diet across all the food groups is normally recommended, but, you can be nominally nourished on vegetarian & vegan diets

Originally Posted by Russ D

Now y'see, this is one thing that annoys me. You have the parents shrugging their shoulders saying the problem is 'genetic', yet they encourage her to eat pies, chips, chocolates etc.

But surely "genetic" means "you get it from your parents"...