Why are British kids fat?

[VogueVVague]

So time, two parents working, low budget/cost - all these things can result in ready meals being served up etc. but that still doesnt explain why, compared to the rest of Europe, our kids are the fattest.

So whats the reason?

Is it political?
Cultural?

Something must have changed for us and mot the rest of Europe in the past 50 years (doubt kids before 1960 were chunky).

Are you watching the HFW programme about weight? It's quite an eye-opener. I personally think too many sweets are eaten, and lots of cheap processed food has low nutritional value.
This coupled with kids not going out to play so much, means that they get heavier.
There also seems to be an idea that you can't do anything unless you have money. You have to go shopping, or to soft play, or McD's, stopping off for a "sweet treat" at the same time. Me and my DD walk most places, or get the bus, and then go to the woods, parks or beach. We take a flask and some sandwiches.
I think it's a massive shame, and that companies like Nestle should give vouchers for free swimming sessions or something. They make massive profits from their terrible cereals, they should give something back.

I've actually got a thread somewhere on here on buying large size exercise bras for not much money. Everyone's been very helpful.

Most of the cheap ones are fine but the cup sizes are far too small and the damn things just ride up my norks when I run.

I went through a stage of doing lots of exercise...seven or more gym classes a week including spin, pump, hiit etc. I got fitter but didn't lose weight because I didn't change my diet. I've lost weight before by solely changing my diet and not exercising.

Exercise is a fallacy as far as I'm concerned.

Didn't some cereal boxes have coupons on for days out?

I think that would be a fab idea to have them contribute to getting kids more active.

I would also like to see a study along the lines of a family who give breakfast cereals vs a family who gave cooked breakfasts (not full on fry ups but things like boiled or poached eggs omelettes etc or porridge and whether the additional cost of extra food to make up for cereal not being a particularly filling or long lasting breakfast still worked out cheaper long term.

I know my Dd were always hungry on cereal. They could have eaten a fair amount on top if I'd have let them.

@SarfE4sticated

Are you watching the HFW programme about weight? It's quite an eye-opener.

I watched and it was fascinating. Some excellent points.

I was shocked at how the GP's didn't want to bring up the issue of weight though.

Yes @Olivia, I though it was very moving to see that lovely lady not feeling like she deserved to feed herself well. I wonder how much depression and low self-esteem feed into the over-eating vicious circle.

@Giles you're quite right about proper breakfasts I think, even porridge would be better than some of those cereals. My dd has scrambled egg on toast most days, keeps her full until lunch, and makes me feel good! I also give her orange juice, despite the sugar.

Portions are the main issue IMO, just look what's served up at most chain run places as a portion. Waaayy to much. Kids aren't playing out like they used to either.

The sports bra argument is fucking ridiculous btw. I've large boobs and manage to exercise without a 30 pound sports bra. I do sit ups, push ups, swimming and my fave is a 3 minute arm exercise on YouTube that I do 2-3 times a day. I also walk a good 2 hours a day. My normal bras are fine for all those things and I'm doing no damage. Exercise helps with weight but its the over eating that's the issue. People are terrified of their kids being hungry, you're MEANT to be hungry before your meal

Well i guess its much more virtuous to need treatment off the NHS for damage to breast tissue from excersising than it is for being overweight

AS if you'd get treatment for that, if it was even a thing. which it isn't.

Also want to add....there's a lot of people on here saying their kids weren't fat then after joining highschool they became overweight due to buying stuff from the canteen, shops etc. Easy solution there, don't give them money. Make them a packed lunch and spends only at the weekend....if they're even needed then

Banivani - I agree we're small island with a housing shortage we need to get on board with living in flats, I haven't lived in a house since dd was 2. She's still very active and fit. BUT it pisses me off that building developers AREN'T made to ensure the correct infrastructure is ALSO built/provided when they build a new development. People don't just need a roof! They need schools, gp's, transport, areas to play, exercise and relax I've never met a poor developer they can certainly afford to provide community centres, parks etc as well as housing and if they can't imo they shouldn't be building the homes! Those studies also show that people who are active aren't just physically healthier - but mentally too - they're happier.

And yes as someone who as a Lp has always been on a very tight budget, meant living in small flats and drying on radiators. Very lucky I haven't been in truly substandard accommodation which sadly far too many in uk are.

Helena - you and I are usually twin thinkers but on this I kinda disagree. Swimming, yoga, power walking and other exercises don't require sports bras but still can burn plenty of cals. I do think the price and availability of bras for those of us with larger breasts (I'm dd to e depending on style and maker) is extortionate and sparse, even just normal bras.

SarfE I and many others would HATE to have anything to do with nestle even if it was costing them. Appalling ethics in many ways even beyond obesity issues. Many inc myself won't buy their products.

Exercise alone won't lose you weight, diet alone won't lose you much weight, a combination of the 2 (and not rewarding exercise with high cal food) is proven to be the best approach.

The secondary school dd is going too is cashless. They can only spend a max of a fiver a day and you can see what they are buying.

I think that's a good idea as it gives them freedom but allows you to.monotor the situation.

I won't be giving dd money she won't need it and she doesn't really want school food anyway.

Exercise may not help everyone lose weight but it gives you more energy and thereby improves your quality of life. You can't deny that kids who stay on Xbox all day are more likely to be more overweight than kids who play outside all day

Someone mentioned earlier about food being less filling - this might explain why children need 2 lunches when people who worked as labourers in the 70s didn't!

What I meant about 2 lunches was that ds (as an almost teen)could easily have a sandwich at half 11 and a pie and salad at 2pm, no bother. He's very lean and I think just has a small stomach so he can't eat big meals in one go. So ideally he would have 5 meals a day!
All my brothers were just the same and that is back in the 70s and 80s..Like a pp said (not sure who sorry) some people are just built like that. I don't think that's so unusual in young people with athletic builds.

Weight management is
90% food intake
10% exercise
If a child eats a sensible amount of food, all the XBox in the world will not make them fat.
If a child eats masses of food, all the running around in the world will not keep them slim.
Its physics.

Some people seem to have a chip on their shoulder about weight and will look for ANY reason to take any responsibility themselves. Unfortunately that means their children will also suffer.
Has there been an increase in learned helplessness over the last 20 years?
The sports bra excuse is hilarious!

Try brisk walking and floor exercises- I have big boobs and had to get back into shape after an injury which meant I couldn't run- there are lots of types of exercise you can do with big boobs which don't require scaffolding, special equipment or expensive gym classes.

'Are you watching the HFW programme about weight?'

No. It's exhausting keeping up with all these sleb chefs on campaigns to . . . sell their books.

Im all for exercise...I make sure my DC have plenty...we've just had a long walk and about to go swimming. I go to the gym several times a week. It makes me fitter, gives me energy and is good for my mental health. Just making the point that its effect on weight is not as great as everyone makes out.

Works for me

I think with the exercise thing there's in some cases an element of somehow it allows you to eat more.

When my family sometimes take dd to a sporting club they always go on about how she's hungry and needs a snack.

No you go to get exercise , get fit etc not to somehow allow yourself to eat shitty snacks afterwards.

The second they have to walk anywhere with them somehow they need some food

Needless to say I've been very firm on the matter..you don't run around for 10 mins just to be able to eat cake...

Doesn't help that they all serve chips and burgers etc at the leisure centres so people swim then eat chips smothered with cheese and ketchup after...

Works for me

Good for you. Well done on being a better person than me and many others.

If you eat 1500 calories & day & burn 500 from exercise you will loose weight.

If you eat back that 500 calories then of course you will not loose weight. It’s simpls sums

gileswith
If you are active you have a higher TDEE
my sedentary TDEE is 1500 ish calories per day
my gym bunny TDEE is 1900 calories ish
400 extra calories for a whole morning of working out

so a muffin and a latte and its all used up

Not an answer for kids but maybe this would help in a round about way.

Have slimming clubs in work places. If you get parents eating better so will kids.

The point about exercise and not being fat, is not about exercise making you thin. It's about exercise making you fitter, reducing the impact of cortisol (which elevated levels of can cause insulin resistance, depressed testosteron/progesterone production, thyroid function) So a fitter person is less likely to become fatter, not just from the (few) extra calories used, but from the improved hormone behaviour.

Of course, if you're already fat, and you have your fat mass keeping your appetite to maintain the fat (ghrelin resistance), then the exercise doesn't help much, other than again the few extra calories burnt in losing weight, however the extra fitness will make it easier not to put on even more weight. And obviously the fitness has a lot of other benefits.

Also if you're fitter, you can certainly burn more than 400 calories in a morning, because you can train at a higher intensity for the entire morning. Remember the elite cyclist does need more than 5000 calories a day to ride the tour de france, all with a body fat they try and keep in the single figures. For most of us though, it's not much, and the advantages of exercise are fitness, not weight loss.

)))))) Slimming Clubs ((((((((
They want you to keep failing and keep coming and buying their products.
If they actually worked they would have gone bust years ago