22% of 4-5 year olds are overweight? How?!

[changing221]

Can someone explain to me how we are living in a society of overweight 4 year olds? I'm not trying to be goady or holier than thou, I'm genuinely interested.

What is the cause of these fat 4-5 year olds??
Where is it all going wrong for these children who are now likely to be overweight or obese well in to adulthood.

FWIW I have a 4 year old. We have McDonald's takeaway regularly, sweet treats (danish, cinnamon bun, chocolate, biscuits, cake) daily. Lots of cheese and yogurt, healthy fats, jacket potatoes etc. And she's still on the 25th percentile and a string bean.

It's (probably rightly) no longer regarded as acceptable for young kids to play out alone (certainly in most urban areas). But that means parents have to invest time and effort in taking kids out for exercise. Some can't (disability, weekend working), but lots just don't fancy it. I mean, I get it, playgrounds are not scintillating places on a freezing winter Sunday. But that's parenting for you, no-one said it would always be easy.

I'm not sure if the number of obese children has increased that much since the first lockdown; there were certainly plenty previously. From my own observations, totally unscientific anecdata, I rarely see a very overweight child without at least one overweight parent - fat runs in families. This may be partly due to genetics, but I suspect more about diet. It's definitely linked to poverty and deprivation. Poor areas have loads of crap, cheap fast food businesses. Portions are generally large; there's over-consumption of fizzy drinks.

@LadyCampanulaTottington

Carbs, carbs and more carbs.

Not enough protein, not enough healthy fats.

I'd say it's more likely to be sugar and misjudging portions.

Carbs aren't bad for you.

Carbs and sugars are the same thing to the body

When I had my first in 2014 I was surprised by the snacking culture. I thought I should try to be as healthy as possible in pregnancy, but everyone wanted to feed me cake all the time.
Then when the babies started on solids, I couldn't believe the trap all my new mum friends fell into, with likes of Organix etc. Kids do not need to be eating crisps all the time. Ok, they may be 'organic carrot puffs', but that leads to crisps as a snack daily.
I did carry snacks all the time, but they were satsumas and peanut butter sandwiches. Just as easy to grab, far cheaper too.
Now my kids are primary age and I still have crisps only as an occasional snack, not a lunchbox item.
I never understood why raisins are vilified on mumsnet. Starting habits such as dried fruit as a treat is better than haribo. Just teach them to brush their teeth.
Mine know that fruit is a snack. Crisps and biscuits are a treat. Cake, chocolate, sweets are special treats for special occasions.
I do think Organic etc with their baby crisps and cereal bars, have a lot to answer for.

As adults we find it difficult to eat healthy. It's almost impossible for children.

Since April I have been trying to eat minimal ultra processed food. Have lost 2st doing it. But it has been difficult and I often skip meals as it is difficult to get non upf out and about, or I don't have time to make lunch. I never eat breakfast anyway.

I am lucky that I am a ft student so am at home more than someone working ft. And still struggle. But it is as much the fault of the monopolies of the food and supermarkets as it is the individuals.

I know how to cook, have a good budget for food, a car, supermarkets round every corner, all the equipment etc. But in an evening, when we have been out of the house maybe 10 hours no one wants a tuna salad or a bowl of homemade soup.

Because we are tired, hangry, busy. We want something quick, tasty and familiar. We are lucky that we only have 2 days a week like that but it must be even more difficult for those working full time with younger dcs.

As I said upthread my ds is chunky atm, I know this and we are trying. But it would be much easier to buy the next size up school trousers than get him losing the chub. Christmas won't help either. But we will dp it. I am just not sure how possible it is for parents in different situations to be able to do it.

@SarahWoodruff

It's (probably rightly) no longer regarded as acceptable for young kids to play out alone (certainly in most urban areas). But that means parents have to invest time and effort in taking kids out for exercise. Some can't (disability, weekend working), but lots just don't fancy it. I mean, I get it, playgrounds are not scintillating places on a freezing winter Sunday. But that's parenting for you, no-one said it would always be easy.

I probably agree with this.

I live next to a huge park with amazing playground. I'm there pretty much everyday for at least an hour with my DC, even in the freezing cold. So are my local mum friends with their DC.

We've said before why isn't the playground busy in the winter like it is in summer? Children still need to burn off energy in the winter months.

@worriedatthemoment

These posts always turn into the pat myself in the back brigade because ky kids eat all the vegetables and tofu and salmon etc I have a child ( now adult ) who eats mostly beige food , we went to nutritionists the lot, he just throws up if he eats certain foods , textures etc And believe you me he would starve rather than eat certain things, we tried it all As it happens he is close to being underweight as whist he eats crAp food , he doesn't eat large quantities so calorie wise is prob less than someone who has a healthier diet , he is also very active . Buy because he eats mainly beige food people have always looked at us as the fault , my sil would brag how her son ate everything ( he hAs a weight problem) I don't think its as simple as to say its one thing and one thing only , I think it is many things and will be different things for all I prob eat around 1200 calories most days , but I don't loose weight where as many would .

No one on here has said their child eats like this. I certainly haven't in my OP.

I'm questioning how much/the portion sizes of crap food these 4yos must be eating to be fat. Plus, as many PP have said, the sheer lack of exercise.

Why isn't it busier in winter like summer?

Why do you think? Freezing, wet, muddy, less daylight hours, no wellies or wet weather gear for the kids? Only 1 warm coat that parents can't wash and get dry for school on Monday?

We spend an awful lot of time outside. We have a huge allotment that ds loves with chickens, we have a dog walk, 2 ponies, kids do watersports, ds rather go for a walk than a playground, we have all the wet weather gear. But even we don't do playgrounds in the cold and mud and wind.

@changing221 really you haven't seen a single post on here saying how well they feed there children whilst others only give their kids crap ??
How easy it is for them to do , your own posts asking why less at the playground ? For me we would of been at playground a lot in the summer and not so much in the winter as my two do rugby and football which runs sept - april so therefore less park time available
And as others said not all have several winter coats , gloves etc
The more I am on mumsnet the more I realise how so many people live in a bubble not understanding that life isn't as easy for many

If as adults your gym was outside would you go as much in the winter?

I think not. So it’s hardly surprising not to see many children on the playground when it’s wet and hold for goodness sake.

@changing221 your questioning other people though as though its an easy fix without realising for many it may not be
Im lucky my ds is not overweight with the rubbish diet he has , just he has small appetite ,but aware also just because he is slim doesn't mean he is healthy although he may look ot on outside
Ds2 eats most things and is a healthy eater both brought up exactly same way with same food choices
Just for some its not as simple as just feed less or avoid certain foods

[quote worriedatthemoment]@changing221 really you haven't seen a single post on here saying how well they feed there children whilst others only give their kids crap ??
How easy it is for them to do , your own posts asking why less at the playground ? For me we would of been at playground a lot in the summer and not so much in the winter as my two do rugby and football which runs sept - april so therefore less park time available
And as others said not all have several winter coats , gloves etc
The more I am on mumsnet the more I realise how so many people live in a bubble not understanding that life isn't as easy for many [/quote]

I'm talking about 4-5yos here who don't do term time sports like rugby Et al.

@changing221 rugby starts from 5 football sooner , plus as others have said wet and cold , maybe some of these kids are indoors using soft play/ trampoline parks . I know where I would prob rather take my kids in winter
Maybe they have disabled parents and getting out in winter is harder
Easy to be judgemental but not look at the various reasons as to why , not all are just lazy

Local rugby clubs can be very welcoming and include all shapes, sizes and skill levels and it's not rough at tag rugby stage ime. (And I'm a wuss) They often have mini classes for the little ones.

@meh12 how do you make it work? I agree with you but I do t actually know how to prioritise food over my job because food takes a long time to get right.

@Bloodybridget

I'm not sure if the number of obese children has increased that much since the first lockdown; there were certainly plenty previously. From my own observations, totally unscientific anecdata, I rarely see a very overweight child without at least one overweight parent - fat runs in families. This may be partly due to genetics, but I suspect more about diet. It's definitely linked to poverty and deprivation. Poor areas have loads of crap, cheap fast food businesses. Portions are generally large; there's over-consumption of fizzy drinks.

Sadly I am aware that the bigger children are overwhelmingly the poorer children at DS's school. Their parents are also bigger.

Its really depressing.

If you know the area well, you can almost tell which street the kids are likely to live on from their appearance and manner after only a short time with them. And thats with them wearing uniform.

I don't believe its genetics driving it. If it is then that takes me down a eugenics type route. (And thats even more depressing).

Lockdown may not have clearly inflated the figures but it sent totally the wrong message.

1. People were arrested for going for a walk with their friend because they brought a coffee so it was a "picnic".

2.People were arrested for driving somewhere nice to walk - lots of people don't live in nice areas conducive to outdoor exercise.

1. Kids playgrounds were closed

1. Gyms and village halls were closed

1. The message was stay at home - people were berated for going for a run and possibly breathing on others.

1. There were constant fear-inducing messages on the TV and on posters. Then they wonder why people turn to takeaways, comfort eating and alcohol.

1. Covid has fucked mental health for many adults and children - not great for living your best, healthy life.

1. Many people have been bereaved and feel like shit. Cooking healthy food may not be at the top of their list.

Then they wonder why people (including children) continued to get fat.

Also if 66% of adults are overweight or obese, of course many children will be too as families tend to eat the same things and have similar activity levels. It's understandable.

What I don't get is where the parents are slim and the kids are very overweight, where there are no health reasons for it.

I am still horrified we shut playgrounds for so long despite it being absolutely clear that outside surface transmission was vanishingly rare very early on.

But then given hand sanitising is still performing it's psychological safety function for many, it probably shouldn't be that surprising

The playgrounds maddened me too. And the hectoring at people to restrict outdoor exercise. And the home secretary warning against anyone minglin' with neighbours they came across on the walk.🤨

It was lazy messaging, lazy government.

@hamstersarse

I am still horrified we shut playgrounds for so long despite it being absolutely clear that outside surface transmission was vanishingly rare very early on.

But then given hand sanitising is still performing it's psychological safety function for many, it probably shouldn't be that surprising

Me too. I'm so angry they were shut in the first place.

We'll look back at this time and realise how badly we failed our children.

It’s cheaper and easier to eat unhealthy than it is healthy. A lot of the time it’s also quite unclear just how unhealthy and calorie laden stuff is (especially some “sugar free” stuff).

I do think the biggest reason kids are overweight more is that they are outside much less.

I walked to school, I walked home from school, when I got home my Nana was there so I could play out and did so for hours and hours. Even at school we ran around the playground all day.

Now kids are driven to school - and that’s not just laziness, people have to get to work and there’s so many kids allocated schools that aren’t in walking distance - they’re driven home from after school care at a time of day where it’s time for dinner, bath and bed.

Plus there’s such an emphasis on stranger danger now, and the increase in traffic, that even the kids who are home at 3pm don’t play out often because it’s seen as unsafe.

Lockdown massively exacerbated the situation as well.

Michael Gove’s one hour comment, that so many believed was the rules/law, is one of the most damaging mistakes made by the government imo.