To not be surprised our kids are so fat

[Babycham1979]

When they're fed utter crap like this;

www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/food/article-2957301/What-school-lunches-look-like-world.html

No wonder obesity rates are so high,mand no wonder so many British children are incredibly picky when they're fed processed shite as is evident in these pictures. Imagine some of the pickiest UK children being handed a bowl of miso soup, or prawns, or plantain?!

Is the issue budgetary, or culture? Either way, we're failing our children.

IceBeing
describing cutting edge research from one of the best medical departments in the country and explain exactly how it debunks the idea that genetics is a key factor in obesity. Because what it actually says is that genetics IS a key factor in obesity.

You're not being very circumspect about this piece of research.

Firstly, the use of the word 'triggers' in the title of your link is loaded and probably misleading: 'How 'obesity gene' triggers weight gain'. Unless there has been a dramatic increase in people carrying the obesity variant of the gene, why has there been a 25% plus increase in obesity in the last few decades? What about the 30% of people who have the variant but are not obese? The obvious assumption is that environmental factors (availability and cheapness of certain foods; a move towards faster eating, rather than conventional meal eating; other lifestyle changes) are crucial. The gene variant is a factor, but no doubt only in combination with other factors. It's not the be all and end all - the interesting part of the article is measures that can be taken to address the issue, such as exercise and a high protein diet.

lifestyle is a key factor, availability of cheap food is a key factor, genetics is a key factor.

Given the current environmental conditions, some people with a specific double copy of a gene are 70% more likely to become obese than those without it.

All I am looking for here is an acceptance of the fact that the playing field is not level. Someone with a weight problem isn't morally inferior to someone without a weight problem.

The fact that the playing field is in fact a donut strewn mine field is a separate issue.

Well I think we all now will hear the excuse of 'it's genetic' a lot more.... Something else for over eaters to hide behind and get fat and eat themselves obese

And it's also a good excuse to use to explain away why their children are also overweight like mum/dad.... 'Oh, it's genetic, can't help that'...... Straight back to the doughnuts.....

IceBeing Do you think the variant gene factor is any more significant than the numerous other factors that influence obesity outcomes?

And what about obese people who do not have the variant, but who, through longterm overeating, may now be oblivious to chemical signals in their brain to signal hunger, feeling full etc?

Talking about people who are obese like they are a subspecies is not very nice.

X posted and I was of course addressing 26.2's belittling and simplistic post.

Regarding the role of exercise/activity, people tend to get a little confused between weightloss and maintaining a healthy weight.
It is true that it takes a lot of running to burn the calories in one biscuit, or whatever, so relying on increasing exercise alone isn't usually sufficient to acheive significant weightloss. It is important to maintain the correct balance between energy intake and expenditure. Exercise also burnd visceral fat at a faster rate than subcutaneous fat, which is why exercise (in addition to maintaining a healthy weight) is recommended for prevention of diabetes.
If children are encouraged to have an active lifestyle - plenty of walking, riding bikes, PE, swimming, and some active hobbies then their weight shouldn't become an issue in the first place, unless they are being massively overfed (and I don't think most children are, really).

It takes about one mile to burn off a biscuit.... Just one mile, obviously depends on calories in it

I find when I exercise I generally eat better, so on them days I not only burn calories but I also consume less. My children tend to do evening sport activities (which if they didn't they would probably want snacks), I would quite happily of let them play out when younger but their peers did not play out. This is one area where poverty does play a big part in obesity, and why some may not see obese children.

26point2miles

Obesity was a secondary factor written on my great grandmothers death certificate so it isn't a new issue for some families.

I've only read about half the thread, but just wanted to comment...

I grew up in a large North American city in the 1980s. We were not allowed outside without our parents. We were not allowed to walk to school on our own until we were about 12 - 13 as it was considered dangerous. So not a lot of time playing out.

We had plenty of snack food and never considered that there was a reason not to eat it! What I mean is that there was no moral or financial reason to abstain from snacking. Actually, my Jewish grandparents who had lived through war and hunger actively encouraged snacking. It was a blessing to not be hungry.

As a result we were probably poised for obesity - lots of time indoors, plenty of snacks and no one seeming to care that much what we ate, as long as we ate. This was normal for us. However - no obesity. My sisters and I were and are fine. Today I have a BMI of 21, and it is only at the ripe olf age of 35 that I am noticing I have to watch what I eat. My son eats far too much junk, but he is a skinny little thing who never stops running.

Not sure what my point is exactly, but it just seems wrong to attach moral judgements, outrage and a sense of one up-manship to food choices. Yes, as a species we need to figure out how to deal with surplus calories; calling people lazy probably won't do it. Nor will harking back to a golden era of endless running around and strict rations of meat and allotment veg. Maybe removing emotion from food choices (hard, I know!) will allow people to self-regulate a little bit more easily?

I notice a lot of mindless snacking and the idea that being a little bit hungry is a terrible thing.
If kids are partaking in a physical activity or something where eating may not be appropriate because you might spill it/need to concentrate, then this is time when they are not snacking. Conversely, mindless snacking/fizzy drinks go hand in hand with sedentary hobbies like gaming.
Wasn't there a stupid "clear a plate" campaign recently? Stupidest thing ever. Fast way to put on weight is to consistently over ride the body's signals that it is full.

Sorry have read the whole thread...some of this may have been said before..
It is the parents who are blame absolutely ...no excuses. But the pressure is enormous...
First we have too much choice - go to the supermarkets and see the 'simpsons' sugar coated doughnuts - I honestly can't remember seeing those in the 70s or 80s. Aisles and aisles of crap...all round the bakery section, a biscuit, confectionery, fizzy drink, crisp aisle - whole aisles...how much crap must 'we' be buying These can't be representative of occasional treats - they just can't...
I do think we have to call them treats...but remember treats are something you have very very occasionally...
We are not super healthy - far from it...we have the odd takeaway and pizza for tea (even the occasional Gregg's sausage roll ) - but maybe once a month or so. The DCs aren't overweight - (I am - but not gaining - and I tell them it is incredibly easy to get fat - a lot harder to have to try and lose it....)
In that TV program one of the Drs said something about not being able to say the word fat ...I think that is part of the problem. When DD1 started secondary they don't eat in the canteen (which apparently serves stuff like pizza & chips anyway), they go out to the supermarket and she doesn't make healthy choices (getting better now thankfully). I was giving her a lift with a friend and we were talking about it and I said if you carry on eating like that you'll get fat. Her friend was horrified - you can't use that word, you can't tell her that, you'll make her anorexic - whilst I can see her POV and understand it - I really think we can't be too scared to say it... if it needs to be said.

I don't regularly buy crisps or sweets or fizzy drinks for the DCs - I buy lemonade as a treat at Christmas, we have a bag of crisps each if we go on a picnic or if they need a packed lunch for something (rare) ...
I don't agree with constant snacking - I actually can't understand it.
I see children picked up from school and their parent brings them a snack to eat on the way home or before they go to an activity ... they had lunch 1.5 hrs before ...the activity lasts an hour - do they really need that?
It seems most children at primary get a 'playpiece' - mine have their breakfast at 8.15 - they get their lunch at 12.30ish -that's 4 hrs - they really can't get through 4 hrs without a snack? And they have their milk just before break anyway. Both mine wanted one - because their friends had them - I just said are you hungry then? If the answer is no you don't a playpiece - if you are you can take an apple. Worse it seems to sweets or a chocolate bar or crisps - a lot of them have one or two packets of crisps a day - morning break and after school...
And we live in a naice area with mainly well educated parents - and most of these children aren't fat (a couple a bit podgy) -but still they are getting into such bad habits...
I sometimes think I am too strict (as I said to DD1 (14) if that was her with the phone in the drs - or on the laptop saying I'm busy - she would have lost them both for at least a week -I think the laptop may well have been thrown out of the window...) anyway DD2 (8) made me laugh (and feel maybe I am a little harsh) the other week.
While DD1 was at a birthday party I took DD2 round the supermarket ...I said she could have a treat as it wasn't really fair ...boring shopping while her sister was having fun (and it was the second week this had happened in a month)
She thinks a great treat is a pint carton of milk . I said she could have that - or for this once anything she wanted - within reason...
I then realised we had to speed up or we'd be late for her sister.
When we in the bread aisle she asked if we could get some wholemeal bread rolls ...we got them.
We were in the car going to pick up her sister and I said - Oh I'm sorry - with all the rushing we forgot to get your treat...she said is that bread not my treat?

26.2miles most biscuits don't have many calories, it's just that a lot of people find it difficult to stick to one or two. I've got to admit I do.
A mile isn't any distance at all, but it's apparent that some people think a mile is too far to walk nowadays, especially for young children. It's something I've read on a number of forums. I find that attitude a little bit shocking really.I think some people never walk anywhere at all and they're bringing up their children in the same ways. Walking is just one example of exercise that people used to do automatically, without even thinking about it.

The simple answer would be eating more and burning off less but there are a whole raft of issues which have impact. Lack of education, general low quality of life and poor choices, it's no secret that deprivation goes hand in hand with poor health and obesity.

If people exercise more then they will eat more. If I eat a biscuit, then walk a mile...I will be hungry for another. My brain wants to replace the burnt calories.

Yes if people exercise more, they probably will eat more.

But if they eat the right foods and get enough exercise, it shouldn't make too much difference.

When I was at school meals were nice, well I liked them anyway. Kids are fat these days 'cos they aren't shoved out of the house and made to go and find their own fun, like I was as a kid. We used to walk through the woods, climb trees, ride our bikes and generally do a lot of physical activity. If we were indoors it would be 'cos it was raining etc. I wasn't allowed to sit in front of the TV all day and I certainly wasn't given snack on snack and constant fast food, my parents didn't have the money. Unfortunately bad food is cheaper than good food, but that said regardless of what you eat, if you burn it off you don't get fat. To lose 1lb of weight you need to burn a deficit of 3500 calories. And yeah we did have "fat kids" in my class at school but the number was far fewer, hence why school uniform sizing has increased so vastly.

Not neccesarily Icebeing.In fact they may eat less, due to actually doing something else.

In any case, why would walking a mile make a person feel hungry? It's just a normal activity (though not if you're injured of course).

I see a lot of people here saying "my DC's school is wonderful - lots of healthy options" etc etc yada yada.

The fact that these options are available doesn't always help. Though some of you will be able to say that you know what your DC choose each day, not all of you can be sure - just because a jacket potato, salad or fruit is on offer, doesn't mean they are choosing it over the pizza or chips.

Personally, I think primary schools need to stop having choices - serve one healthy meal to all unless they have specific dietary requirements and have done with it.

It has been shown that people aim for the calorie balance point. If they burn more they eat more. IF they eat less they burn less (stop fidgeting etc.)

None of this helps if your body/brains idea of where the calorie balance is is flawed.

If I eat my actual replacement calories, I will feel hungry. If I do more exercise, eat more calories up to my new actual replacement calories level, I will still feel hungry.

Doing more exercise doesn't solve the problem.

Eating less doesn't solve the problem.

Although at least your fitness levels go up if you do more exercise - so not a total waste of time...

fat walking a mile makes you feel hungry because you burned calories. I am not saying it makes you feel immediately starving...but it might bring forward the point at which you feel you need to eat - and it will make you want to eat more when you do eat.

I think I remember on that 'the men who made us fat' series they said that there is no evidence whatsoever that doing exercise will reduce your weight. They said that gyms have basically been forced to stop advertising membership as a possible weight loss method and have had to refocus on the idea that exercise improves your fitness....

DuchessofCuntbridge, most parents can see exactly what choices their kids make through parentpay.

I realise it's not Nationwide yet, but I think it soon will be.