Early obesity??

[cougarnurse]

Here's something that may be of interest:
Study: Many kids too fat by preschool

'Cat'

[Ricu]

Here's something that may be of interest:
Study: Many kids too fat by preschool

'Cat'

Although this article features poor and especially Hispanic children, childhood obesity across the board has been a trend on the rise for a number of years now. It's an obvious connection to the sedentary lifestyle we have developed here in America. A complex situation indeed and unfortunately one that will require an equally complex healthcare system to manage. I believe many of the obesity issues facing the poor have to do with food choices made in addition to lifestyle; perhaps some cultural influences. Food that can be purchased on a lean budget is typically high in carbohydrates and fat; a lethal combination. This is an issue public health nurses and social workers face constantly. For a great many other kids in America, too bad we can't turn off the X Box, virtual competition online, HDTV and put away the Coke and potato chips to go outside for a bike ride and fresh air once in awhile. I know, it won't work because it's too simple of a solution.

R

[cougarnurse]

I am sure if we did 'lock up' the TV and video games, etc., it would be called 'child abuse'. LOL! See my post in the Humour Forum; got it from my husband, and found it sooo true!

Some schools don't have PE, I heard, and some students by-pass it for Advanced placement classes.....*sigh*

'Cat'

[Ricu]

I am sure if we did 'lock up' the TV and video games, etc., it would be called 'child abuse'. LOL! See my post in the Humour Forum; got it from my husband, and found it sooo true!

Some schools don't have PE, I heard, and some students by-pass it for Advanced placement classes.....*sigh*

'Cat'

Very true. I'll check out the humor post too. Our school system offers PE just once per week, also music and art. It's one of the many reasons we homeschool our kids. On the other matter, I can't say it's bad to take AP classes even if it's at the expense of PE but does the student take other forms of conditioning? Hopefully, but probably not.

R

[Mom-n-More]

The study says that the chubby kids were still taking bottles at age 3. Man, I can't wait for my 3 month old to get away from bottles already. I hate washing bottles. How can anyone let their kid use them until 3 yrs old? There must be some other cultural issues related to this as well. This also makes me wonder what the chubby kids' teeth look like. My guess would say they have a high rate of dental issues.

[hppygr8ful]

For a great many other kids in America, too bad we can't turn off the X Box, virtual competition online, HDTV and put away the Coke and potato chips to go outside for a bike ride and fresh air once in awhile. I know, it won't work because it's too simple of a solution.

R

The solution is simple but putting it into action next to impossible. Parents need to free themselves from their sedentary lifestyles as well, so that we can be an example to our children. I'm just as bad - sitting here at the computer - but we did turn off everything today for a few hours and just went outside in the sunshine and played.

I also am always a bit irked when I see people in the grocery store with baskets full of soda, cakes, and various unhealthy foods paying with food stamps. They (Food Stamps) should only be able to purchase fresh vegetables, fruits, meat and dairy with food stamps. No soda, no potato chips
etc.... I have been homeless and on food stamps myself but got off as soon as I was employed. Living in poverty is a choice - while I now have a college education my husband dropped out of school in Jr High but gained training and work through trade unions. (It can be done) we have gone from poverty
to a pleasant middle class life.

What we need is fewer social programs and more parents taking responsibility for the health and welfare of their children.

I guess I'm a little too old school

Peace and Namaste

Hppy

[SoldierNurse]

My 2 cents...

PE should be a mandatory requirement at ALL levels of education; preschool, grade school, high school, college... including nursing programs! Physical Fitness should be a way of life throughout the complete life cycle. If, your not participating in some type of physical fitness, then you should NOT be granted health insurance.

Drastic? Yes, but I don't care how drastic my thoughts are on physical fitness. The percentage of obese Americans, both children & adults, is UNSAT!

[cougarnurse]

Mag, does that include those who are in ROTC? Over here, ROTC takes the place of PE.

[hsieh]

when i was a kid in the 70's we would ride our bikes all day in the summer and still be running around till 9 or 10 at night. during the winter we would go out and play in the snow all day. and i might add we never wore helmets when we rode bikes. our culture is grippped with fear. most kids don't keep running around outside after dark these days in the summer (fear) kids aren't out playing in the winter (fear??) i remember as a kid there was a truck that speed through the alleys at night in town and it made this buzzing sound and it sprayed out this white cloud of gas (mosquito killer) and we thought it was so neat we would chase after it so we could get in the white cloud. our culture has changed so that kids are so sedentary. i might add there's a mcdonlds everywher now. as a kid we rarely got mcdonalds now kids are getting fast food several days a week.

[Ricu]

My 2 cents...

PE should be a mandatory requirement at ALL levels of education; preschool, grade school, high school, college... including nursing programs! Physical Fitness should be a way of life throughout the complete life cycle. If, your not participating in some type of physical fitness, then you should NOT be granted health insurance.

Drastic? Yes, but I don't care how drastic my thoughts are on physical fitness. The percentage of obese Americans, both children & adults, is UNSAT!

Hey Mag,

You raise a compelling thought. I wish I felt that insurance companies mandating fitness programs would make a difference in the obesity outcome. You know I share your viewpoint on fitness too, but I don't think making daily exercise a requirement for insurance will change the outcome.

While there are bonafide medical reasons for obesity, the unfortunate folks who are afflicted are hopefully aware of their disorder(s) and are hopefully working on them. They do not however, comprise the entire obese American public, especially the children. For the majority, it's like any addiction. Addicts don't seriously consider the consequences of their disease and in this hypothetical case, will more than likely forfeit their insurance. Perhaps they would view an exercise requirement as an infringement on their right to be sedentary and/or fat. After all, how many uninsured patients do you see weighing in at over 300 pounds? In fact, I'd go so far as to say that many of the largest, morbidly obese patients I see are uninsured but thanks to the working public, they get healthcare anyway.

More to the point of this reply and what is really troublling to me is that as a national standard, public schools are not serving healthy meals in the cafeteria and optimal physical fitness is not taught as a goal. We know that lifestyle conditioning starts at an early age and while the school cannot directly impact what happens in the home, it can set up a way of thinking that will have an impact on the student. These students will have a far better chance of making healthy choices if they are educated properly.

R