Weight Problems in Children, cont'd

Another nation-wide factor (not mid-west specific, necessarily) is increased pressure on school admisitrators to accept lucrative marketing deals from the Pepsi's, Coca-Cola, McDonald's, and Taco Bells of the world. You end up with kids that have very few options for food and nutrition choices because of the (often) exclusive deals cut with the schools. Then they go home and log endless hours on the Play Station. So, of course the kids are going to blow up like balloons.

Deals are cut where the schools are responsible for selling a __x__ units, vending machines (or other outlets) are placed strategically to encourage maximum sales, and instead of focusing on education school administrators end up as front line reps pushing sugar water and taco cheese bombs .

Administrators argue they are desperate for the funds. Any way you slice it--bad news.

As far as being mid-west specific: My perception is that snack food culture is more acceptable there, but I could be wrong. I wonder if there are any documents out there that show fast food or snack food sales records per capita in that region.

First hand info

Hello,

Well, here is how i've perceived the whole capitalistic marketting "scheeme" to highly involve the children in the ever growing "pop" market. For the exact same reason that Camel Brand cigerattes were band from the "Joe Camel" adds, because the cartoons were said to be appealing to young smokers. This is to the effect cause the younger you start smoking, the higher the possibility to become a life long smoker, therefore higher revenues for the cigeratte manufacturer. Wonderful plan, isn't it?! Well, the same falls true to those of the snack food and pop market. Look at Pepsi and Taco Bell. Britney Spears is tramping around a stage (a huge pre-teen/teenage Ideal at the moment) and flaunting not only herself but the pepsi product. What does this do? THe children see that Britney drinks pepsi, so will I. Then, they bottlers get a life long hook, the children become fat and bloated all day long, and britney makes another 10 million dollars to seemingly NOT buy any clothing that will cover half her body?!!! Pepsi and Coke just had a duke out here at my university as far as product distribution rights. Well, Pepsi got the bid, so their products are all over campus. In return, they have offered 100's of thousands of dollars in funding to individual campus organizations. This is great for most organizations, because the lowest amount of funiding is like 1,000$ to start. So, yes, they do use the money to give back to the schools, but it is also for them gain a huge consumer base so they can make more money off the poor souls we call Americans enjoying our own unalienable rights. Sorry for the whole "against Capitalism" talk, but I just attended a benefit concert last night full of punks and other non-capitalistic supporters, so i'm in the ranting and raveing mood. Thank you,

Chefjoed

It's true that through marketing and "product placement" these companies hook our children, but, what we must not forget is that parents have some responsibility too. We need to teach our kids proper nutrition as well as practicing what we preach. I hate to see other parents in the supermarket filling their carts full of high fat "empty calorie" prepared foods. I don't think it takes much longer to prepare a quick healthy meal than it does to pre-heat the oven and toss in a frozen pizza.
I've seen both ends of the spectrum in my own family. Two nephews- both 13 years old. One is healthy and the other is bordering on obese. The main difference is the parenting. Preparing healthy meals, limiting fast food, encouraging physical activities, and maintaining their own health.
It's sooo important to give them a healthy start in life. Statisticaly, of the 10% to 40% of children who are overweight, 50% to 85% will be overweight as adults*. My children are only two and four, but they know that it's important to eat enough fruits and vegetables as well as drink enough water and exercise on a regular basis. Children are willing to learn if you are willing to teach.







*Arelene Eisenberg, Heidi E. Murkoff, Sandee E. Hathaway, B.S.N.
"What to Expect the Toddler Years"

Children's nutrition

Absolutely, Svadhisthana. Good eating habits begin in the high chair. I can't think of anyone that I know who has a weight problem that isn't a fast food junkie. It's so sad!

I am very dissapointed when I realise how young parents are completely indifferent for what their children consume.
I will not bring up surveys and statistics about embryos that adopt their mothers' habits.

Fat cells are created since the day we are born so having this easy to digest fact in mind, parents shouldn't have any particular difficulty in taking care of their children's nutrition.

I am sorry to say that, but the majority of parents just doesn't care. It's a symptom of our society. A general lack of interest.
This reflects primarly to the nutrition.

The whole story is very sad and discouraging

our children's nutrition

i agree with all the comments being made,however take this approach.
you say quick healthy meals. do those parents really know what a "healthy meal is"?and by whose standard of health are we talking about. where did they learn that healthy eating plan.
unless you have decided to educate yourself(and it does require a large amonut of reading) you would not know the difference between mac-n-cheese and pinto beans and rice as far as nutrition goes. our bodies are all different in that we metabolize our foods differently.that would be cause to understand how your children need to be fed.
dr. diadamo)sp?) writes about your blood type and the food you should consume for the best results of absortion,assimilation and digestion.ie...type o's have the higest hcl acid in their systems therefore they can consume the most of the meats,type ab...cannot consume red meat but can consume lamb &turkey we are a mixed blood type we don't have too much or to little hcl.further reading of this approach leads to conclusions that before where an upset stomach was the result of food ate often where they are omitted no problem. I speak from practicing this eating plan myself.
yes i agree our society has poisioned everyone with bad food and from bad eating habits/ people now have dietary needs that have to meet .even in rests. so education is the key/ organics are the key.
i think today young and older parents are smarter tham ever and more informed. we all need to more informed.

Poor diet, bad teeth

Yes, good nutrician requires a lot of reading. I have noticed in recent years that a lot of toddlers and young children have a mouth full of cavities. The thing that these children seem to have in common is that they get a lot of acidic juice in their baby bottles, and soda. When my kids were growing up, three out of four of them made it to adulthood without a single cavity. They drank milk most of the time, and lots of it. My last son was more spoiled. He got a lot of soda and has horrible problems with his teeth. The acid ate away at them and the soda caused him to carry several more pounds than he should. All four of my kids faithfully brushed their teeth, but the soda drinker is the only one with problems.

Lots of factors...

Where I now live, the 4 Corners area of the US, "Fitness" runs about 5,371,887th on most people's lists of things to do. There definitely are fitness enthusiasts, as this is a big mountain biking and skiing region.

The locals who can afford the mountain bikes and the $100 a day to go skiing are on the more fit end of the spectrum. However, most of the people who engage in fitness activities around here are not locals but tourists. This area is financially depressed which not only affects one's ability to participate in sports, but also affects food choices. Ever notice it's more expensive to eat healthy than to pile tons of marked-down, low-end beef roasts into your cart? "Buy one get one free" happens a lot in the meat case, but if supermarkets did that with lettuce and vegetables, it might entice a low-income family to eat better.

I've noticed a general "laxness" in parents when it comes to healthy eating habits. My daughter has a friend who spent several nights here during the holidays. Imagine my shock when, at 9:00 p.m. I heard a soda can pop open! The kid decided this was an appropriate time to drink a Coke! I dashed into the kitchen saying, "No, no, no, no, no...Between the caffeine and the sugar, you'll be bouncing off the walls all night." This kid has horrible teeth and has begun packing on pounds, as she's just passed puberty. (Her entire family has terrible teeth and seriously compromised eating habits.)

Even at our least fit, we've tried to serve balanced meals, get some form of exercise into our lives and use common sense about sweets and other junk. Lots of people like a great hamburger topped with a wonderful cheese and properly prepared french fries as a treat. If a parent bases his or her child's diet on this kind of high-fat fast food, their kids are in for an uphill battle, weightwise. If a parent is a lousy eater, they pass this onto their children simply by observation. That's the scary part.

Over weight children

It is sad but the States is not the only place that children are obese. Unfortunately it is a British thing as well.
The main causes are identical, bad habits in eating and lack of exercise. It is suprising the amount of friends I have who can not cook a meal unless the deep fat fryer is involved.

I like to think that I provide healthy food for my children but as with most children they resist (with vigour) to eat the recommended amounts of fruit and veg.

One of my biggest problems is 3 of my children and my husband are allergic to artifical sweeteners of any kind. It causes a heart acceleration. It seems that most manifacturers go for cheapness and do not take into account the side effects of some of the ingredients.....

Any one battling with hyperactive children watch out for anything artifical. Whether sweeteners or colours.

:bounce:

I could give my own spiel on Coke and Pepsi and other junk food manufacturers who market their products to kids...but that would take too long, :rolleyes: and besides, it's as several have already mentioned- parents have the most responsibility and pull in what their kids eat.

It's this simple- if parents stopped buying "junk" food, manufacturers would either stop making it or make less of it, at the very least. Simple supply and demand.

It's difficult for an on the go family or a poor family to eat well balanced meals, especially as the junky food is often so much cheaper than fresher healthier things, but there are ways. Many people I know just don't care to take the time to look for the ways, or even try. They claim their time is too valuable. I always want to say- There is no better way to spend your time than on ways to keep your children healthy!! *sigh*

I'm lucky, but it's not all luck. I like to think that I feed my daughter well. She is a salad junkie- always asking for salads. I'll also admit I've been a "bad" mother sometimes. My daughter will ask me for water, and if I don't have any filtered water on hand (the tap stuff is so yucky) I'll just say "how about some juice?" I never knew a kid to turn down juice in favor of water, but mine does!:eek: I feel pretty lucky, but at the same time, I like to make sure I don't have lots of junk food in my house- and that the treats I do have are homemade, so I know what's in them. The other cool thing is that when we go to the store, Allister wants to get "carrok-treats" (translated, carrot-treats). She loves carrots and considers them a treat! How's that for a bizarre kid?

And I agree that on the whole, most kids don't get enough exercise. Whoever mentioned the playstations was right on the money. And I think it's terrible that many schools (elementary) have not only cut back on their PE programs, but many have eliminated at least one recess, and sometimes all of them! That's not only bad for kids health, but I don't know of a single kid who can (or should) go for seven hours a day without a few breaks here and there. :(

Ok, I'll get off my soapbox now. Sorry to be so long-winded!!:blush: