American kids FATTER than ever!

[StageLeft]

OK I'll admit the trends are similar in Canada as well: MSNBC

 

[guyver01]

<< more time sitting in front of computers >>



oh yeah.. that's right.. blame the poor defenseless internet.. don't put blame where it belongs... THE PARENTS!
Lack of supervision, exercise, poor judgement.

 

[StageLeft]

I'll tell you the problem: video games are more fun than pick up sticks, and since more adults are fatter than in the past through poor lifestyle and eating habits when these kids go to the cuboards for something to eat they see chips and cookies.

 

[Scrapster]

I blame &quot;lunch trading&quot; at school. God knows how many items I traded for twinkies and ding dongs.

 

[Adul]

poor diets, parents, poor attitude about health, and way too much junk food.

I rather have fruit around to snack on.

 

[Electric Amish]

I can't tell you how many times I've stopped for gas in the morning and seen a parent on their way to work with their kid there to be dropped off at school. They go into the gas station and the parent is buying the kid donuts, etc... for breakfast.

amish

 

[Total Refected Power]

TYPICAL KIDS DIET:

Chicken Fingers
Grilled Cheese
French Fries
Pizza
Noodles with ketchup
Hamburgers
Junk Food
Soda

Plus little exercise and a whole host of sedentary activities of the modern age. TV, video games, internet access etc.

 

[ArkAoss]

kids is gettin fat, maybe the next gen of americans will be soo lazy, we will get taken over by a wild revolt from peru...

 

[Scrapster]

Damn, I think my mom should start shopping with these parents. My last care package consisted of rice cakes and peanut butter.

 

[Zenmervolt]

TRP, you hit my habits right on. Of course I'm 6'-0&quot; and 140lbs despite my habit of eating only junk food. According to my last physical I'm perfectly healthy as well. Must be the exception that proves the rule As far as the blame, I blame nature for not giving everyone a metabolism that will let them eat whatever they want and not gain an ounce.

Zenmervolt

 

[Elita1]

It's sad really.
When parents lead a sedentary and unhealthy lifestyle, kids are bound to pick up on the bad habits.
I'm not saying to blame it on tv, or video games or junk food. All of that is just fine, but in moderation. Kids also need a healthy balance of outdoor activities, good food, and socialization.
It's up to the parents to instill this in their children.
And the society of 1st world countries, I have noticed, is all about convenience and comfort. This of course is quickly spreading to developing countries, too, but not as much as in North America and other places.

 

[loogie]

Someone hand me the tub o' lard please.

loogie grabs his spoon

 

[StageLeft]

I was a chubby kid, so were my two brothers. I blame it squarely on my parents. We were not that active as kids, but coming from England where all kid's favorite passtimes is pulling down 3 pounds of candy after school we had bad habits. Then as young teens my mother would bring home a bottle of pop and chocholate bar EVERY day after school. Before bed I'd have a coke and half a party bag of chips. Damn...I finally decided to take control but I will never do that with my kids...not that I blame them, becausethey were not really aware of what it would do to us.

 

[cyclistca]

It's up to the parents to instill this in their children.

So true Elita1. Parents need to make the effort to get their kids buts out there and expose them to all the various activities available to them. When I was younger my parents got me involved in hockey, baseball, soccer and Scouting. Though I do not participate in any of these now they all developed my interesting in doing sports and the great outdoors. If I ever have children I plan to do the same with them. If you leave you children in front of the computer or TV of course they are going to become overweight.

Then there is all the pre-processed food that has become part of the NA diet. With parents being so busy families are eating out more then ever.

 

[Elita1]

Cyclistica, I totally agree. And of course I'm guilty of that to some degree as well.
who the heck wants to slave over a hot stove on the weekend? not me!
Thankfully my husband is an active man and I'm also making a great effort with our daughter to keep her active, and teaching her to like healthy foods. So far I'm succeeding; she loves fruit and vegetables and enjoys running and playing outdoors and is not very interested in TV.
My only failure is she loves ketchup on everything! trying to curb that little habit whenever I can

 

[Raspewtin]

1 out every 4 americans is overweight, so if only 14% of 12-19 year olds are overweight these kids are doing much better than ourselves.

 

[Demosthenes]

LOL, that's a great point..

 

[Howard]

I'd rather see this than cases of anorexia or bulimia...

 

[LordMaul]

TWWWWWIIIIIIINNN-KEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!

 

[MrAnderson]

I think the real problem is the way the world is going. You can do so many thing from the comfort of your own home or office people don't get the exercise in just daily routines that they used to. Now they come out with these pills and things that will alter your body without any workout....kinda scary...I don't think I want to put anything that unnatural into my body

 

[Isla]

Part of it is advertising, too.

I buy 'healthy' foods as opposed to junk and my kids hate me for it. I have to be careful to strike a balance because it is natural for kids to rebel a little on the road to independence... I don't want them to become junk food junkies as a way to rebel against me!

They want what they see on TV and all the stuff that is packaged in a 'popular' way. When I do bring home junk, they want to know what the special occasion is.

 

[Eug]

I wonder if the article took into account the fact that the definition of overweight (using BMI) changed a few years back, so that overnight the percentage of overweight people increased significantly. I agree with the change in definition though, because quite frankly, far too many North Americans are overweight or frankly obese.

It's interesting to note that while Canadians on average eat too much, Americans eat even more, with the average caloric intake of a US citizen roughly 5-10% higher than Canadians. And I already think far too many Canadians are overweight. Yeesh!

Even the vegetarians are overweight - it seems that the most popular vegetarian meal is french fries and coke.

By the way, don't blame it on metabolism. Repeated studies shown that overweight and obese persons do NOT have a lower rate of metabolism. In fact an obese person can burn as many calories as a fit and active person who is not overweight. The sad truth is just the fact that the obese person eats more calories and exercises less. (It takes calories to maintain fat that isn't doing anything beyond just sitting there - so that's why overall an obese person will need a higher metabolism than a similar but slim sedentary person.)