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Parents blame selves for children's obesity
Well, whaddaya know; there might still be hope for our society! g
www.reuters.com, Health eLine, August 11, 2003 Parents blame selves for children's obesity Last Updated: 2003-08-11 16:34:13 -0400 (Reuters Health) By Brad Dorfman CHICAGO (Reuters) - Parents, not fast-food restaurants, are most responsible for the rise of obesity in American children, a survey said on Tuesday. Two out of three U.S. households surveyed by ACNielsen said the parent or guardian was to blame for obesity in children 17 and under, with fast-food restaurants blamed by only 10 percent and food manufacturers named by only 1 percent. The child received the most blame from 9 percent of the 22,000 households that responded, while advertising, television, radio and other media received 7 percent of the blame, according to ACNielsen. Obesity, especially among children, has become a high profile topic in recent months, with lawsuits filed against fast-food restaurants and food-makers. Schools are also being pressured to remove vending machines carrying sugar-laden sodas and fat-filled snacks. In the United States, 61 percent of adults aged 20 to 74 and about a quarter of children are considered overweight or obese. More than three out of four households said schools should adopt new policies to address child obesity, according to ACNielsen, a unit of VNU NV. Forty-one percent called for an outright ban on the sale or consumption of unhealthy foods and beverages in schools, while 38 percent said they should not be sold but that students should be allowed to bring them. Even when allowed to name more than one culprit for childhood obesity, parents took the bulk of the blame, with 86 percent of households saying parents or guardians have at least some responsibility, while fast food restaurants were named 60 percent of the time. Manufacturers came in at the bottom of the list, named by only 18 percent of households. "Many manufacturers were somewhat relieved to see how low the score was for households placing blame on manufacturers," Todd Hale, senior vice president at ACNielsen Consumer Insights, said in an interview. Ninety percent of those surveyed were either very concerned or somewhat concerned with child obesity, the survey said. |
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Parents blame selves for children's obesity
I hope you are correct. An equally accurate title for article would be
"Parents blame other parents for letting the other parents' kids become obese." There is nothing there that suggests that parents of obese kids recognize their kids as obese or that they blame themselves when their kids are obese. Before parents take action on something, they have to be convinced that there is something wrong. Jeff Copyrighted article illegally copied deleted. |
#3
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Parents blame selves for children's obesity
"JG" wrote
Even when allowed to name more than one culprit for childhood obesity, I would have mentioned changes in our society that make it more unlikely that kids will walk to school, ride a bike, play sports during school recess, and participate in other athletics. |
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Parents blame selves for children's obesity
Your Help is Desperatly Needed to Stop Lead Poisoning in Children!
Hello MY Name is Shelly, I'm writing this message in the hope of getting signatures/names for my crusade against Lead Poisoning in Children. My 4 Children ( Brandon 5, Marissah 4, Thomas 22 mos., and Jacob 6 mos.) were tested positive for lead poisoning! upon testing of my appartment, we found that there were high levels of Lead!.... Each night as i layed my children down to sleep in their beds,i would watch them kneel at the side of their beds to say their prayers,I would kiss them goodnightand tuck them saftly into their beds so i thought. Little did i Know that their rooms were where i left them each night to sleep was loaded with lead! The one place i thought they were safe and sound, Poisoned them! My babies, My Sweet, innocent babies...I called everywhere i could think to solve this matter, i even called my local Health Department. They informed me that unless my childrens lead levels reach the dangerous level of 20 or above they could not help me! i was so upset, i felt that no one cared about the safty of my children but myself! SO I made a vow to my children that i would fight the lagal system to have the lead levels reduced.... Knowing that if i waited till their lead levels reached 20 they would already be suffering for the lead nad could experience learning disabilities, Brain Damage and even Death in some cases! I need to help my children and other Children! and your help can put us one step closer to doing this! below in an email address you can respond to, simply drop me a quick email and tell me to put your name on the list! Please also provide your email, the city and State you live in. by signing this petition we can get these lead levels lowered! PLEASE WE REALLY NEED YOUR HELP! Signed, Shelly In New York |
#5
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Parents blame selves for children's obesity
"Roger Schlafly" wrote in message
et... "JG" wrote Even when allowed to name more than one culprit for childhood obesity, I would have mentioned changes in our society that make it more unlikely that kids will walk to school, ride a bike, play sports during school recess, and participate in other athletics. Good point, but couldn't--wouldn't--parents also blame themselves (or be blamed), to a large extent, for their kids' lack of exercise? Some parents may be paranoid about allowing their kids to walk to school, or even to play outside or ride a bike, unless there's a trusted adult to supervise (and put helmets on the kids, invariably incorrectly? g) them, and such monitors have, IME, become rather hard to find these days when so few parents are home (anyone else have a mom who seemed to be constantly shooing him/her outside to play and "get some fresh air"? g) and surrogate caregivers are often charged with supervising many kids, of varied ages and interests, at one time. (--not-so-subtle dig at daycare centers g) As for playing during recess, I suppose litigation-wary school administrators are largely to blame. While there might be less "unorganized" (spontaneous, kids-initiated) physical activity (e.g., playing of games involving lots of running/movement, bike riding just for the fun of it) taking place (I think there is), there's certainly been an increase in the number/variety of *organized* (by governmental bodies such as city/county park and recreation departments as well as by schools [especially for girls, thanks to Title IX]) opportunities to participate in sports/athletics. I imagine one or more constraints--time, travel, participation/uniform fees--might preclude many parents from availing themselves of these, however. Just as kids frequently copy their parents' dietary/eating habits, so too do they (IMO) echo their parents' exercise/physical activity levels. [I have seen, however, many slugs, er, inactive parents who get their kids involved in sports for reasons other than health, e.g., to create a "more rounded"--not literally!--school/college applicant (I'm sure the prospect of an athletic scholarship has also crossed many minds) or to live out, vicariously, one of their own fantasies (I see this in a lot of folks who put golf clubs/tennis rackets in their young kids' hands).] |
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Parents blame selves for children's obesity
"JG" wrote in message t... "Roger Schlafly" wrote in message et... "JG" wrote Even when allowed to name more than one culprit for childhood obesity, I would have mentioned changes in our society that make it more unlikely that kids will walk to school, ride a bike, play sports during school recess, and participate in other athletics. Good point, but couldn't--wouldn't--parents also blame themselves (or be blamed), to a large extent, for their kids' lack of exercise? Do the parents perceive lack of excercise as a problem? (...) As for playing during recess, I suppose litigation-wary school administrators are largely to blame. Don't forget those sue-happy people, the lawyers and the adminitrators who don't provide safe places to play. Just as kids frequently copy their parents' dietary/eating habits, so too do they (IMO) echo their parents' exercise/physical activity levels. How true. Or their parents' inactivity levels. Jeff (...) |
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Parents blame selves for children's obesity
Jeff Utz wrote:
I hope you are correct. An equally accurate title for article would be "Parents blame other parents for letting the other parents' kids become obese." There is nothing there that suggests that parents of obese kids recognize their kids as obese or that they blame themselves when their kids are obese. My personal experience is that 95% of the obese parents of obese children will tell you that it's genetics, i.e., not their fault at all. Wendy |
#8
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Parents blame selves for children's obesity
JG wrote:
Some parents may be paranoid about allowing their kids to walk to school, or even to play outside or ride a bike, unless there's a trusted adult to supervise (and put helmets on the kids, invariably incorrectly? g) them Speaking as a parent of children ages 12, 10 and 4, there is enormous societal pressure not to allow my children to do anything that could be considered unsafe by the most paranoid person. I've been spoken to several times for making my children walk the .3 miles to elementary school (gasp, unattended by adults but with either their sibling or an older neighbor kid). I've also been told at least four times that my children ought not to be allowed to walk our puppy because the puppy isn't well-enough trained not to chase a squirrel or cat and the kids get their arms yanked and sometimes get knocked down. I totally agree that they get puppy-induced injuries: my ten year old son had a bloody scrape on his knee just last week. But it's the first one I recall this summer and I just can't get all het up about a 10 year old boy having a scraped knee from playing with his dog outside. I did put the puppy in her third round of puppy training hoping to teach her to heal, though. I make accomodations to avoid serious injury where I deem them appropriate. The 10 year old still uses a booster seat. We decided not to install a pool. We have working smoke detectors and a carbon monoxide detector. But I still send the kids out to play without my supervision. It's a parental choice and there are quite a lot of people who are happy to judge that severely. The kids would be MUCH safer in front of the TV. Wendy |
#9
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Parents blame selves for children's obesity
Fern5827 wrote:
Wendy, part of the problem is the CPS (child protective union) which is quick to respond to any sign of parental supposed inattentiveness. You are frigging unbelievable. Please do not email me anymore ever. Wendy |
#10
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Parents blame selves for children's obesity
"Wendy Marsden" wrote
Some parents may be paranoid about allowing their kids to walk to school, or even to play outside or ride a bike, unless there's a trusted adult to supervise (and put helmets on the kids, invariably incorrectly? g) them Speaking as a parent of children ages 12, 10 and 4, there is enormous societal pressure not to allow my children to do anything that could be considered unsafe by the most paranoid person. I've been spoken to several times for making my children walk the .3 miles to elementary school (gasp, unattended by adults but with either their sibling or an older neighbor kid). I've also been told at least four times that my children ought not to be allowed to walk our puppy because the puppy isn't well-enough trained ... Most people, when subjected to such pressure, stop the practice and the kids end up getting less exercise. That is why I think that those busybodies are contributing to childhood obesity. |
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