To be shocked at the level of obesity of British children?

[MEM00]

Having recently come back from holiday I found myself really shocked by the size of so many other British kids at the resort we were at. It was mostly a mix of British, French and German families and I found it impossible to not notice the difference in the British kids compared to others. DD is 8 and I would say average sized, by no means skinny. She made friends with another girl the same age by the pool, and i'm not joking when i say the other girl must have been twice the size when they were next to each other.

Am i overthinking this? Because it really makes me worry for the future.

This isn't intended by be 'fat shaming' in any way btw.

I’ve always wondered why parents give their children enough food in their packed lunch to feed 5 starving builders? I eat a sandwich for lunch, and a piece of fruit for an afternoon snack, and I’m an adult woman. Why does a six year old need far more than an adult?

I honestly believe that lots of kids eat too many snacks. Cut the snacks and they’d be far more likely to eat a healthy dinner at mealtimes because they’d be hungry. Parents should understand that it’s okay and perfectly normal to feel hungry before a meal. They’re not bad parents if they don’t keep topping their kids up on the hour.

Indeed.

Here is an interesting NYT article on the rise of myopia in children: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/03/well/live/nearsightedness-myopia-children.html

They aren't short sighted because they're more intelligent. "Intelligent" children (ie children from families with a high level of education) spend more time doing near-sighted activities like reading, which means they have higher levels of short-sightedness. As the PP stated, there is a genetic link to short-sightedness but most of it is down to spending too much time indoors, and therefore a lack of daylight and looking into the distance.

most of it is down to spending too much time indoors, and therefore a lack of daylight and looking into the distance

Really? Most of it? I have never heard this and I’m extremely short sighted. I know there is some impact on eyesight if you’re not outdoors enough but always thought it was largely genetic.

I agree. I think a big part of our obesity problem is that it's no longer seen as good or necessary to say 'no' - to your kids or yourself. There used to be a very strong focus on disciplining children and on self-discipline which has been lost over the last few decades, and while that's definitely a good thing in some ways, it also means that when your kids whine for a snack, or that when you'd rather eat three Kitkats instead of a plate of meat and two veg, there's no need to (self) discipline. You just indulge yourself, or your kids.
When I remember how my grandmother (born 1926) ate, it's not surprising she was slim her whole life. She never allowed herself more than one slice of cake or two biscuits a day, she didn't snack, she never over-ate. Not because she didn't enjoy her food, but because she was brought up not to over-indulge. I hardly see that attitude anywhere now, it's mostly seen as cool and relaxed to over-consume food, social media, alcohol etc.

I hear about these kids but not one of DCs friends could be said to be overweight! Every single one of them takes part in a sport in school or out - ant least football for most but many play multiple sports.
And watching the children come out of the school near our house - same- the kids all look fine.

I agree

Noticed a lot of ultra orthodox Jews wear glasses, they also spend hours studying the Torah and the Talmud from a young age.
Malnutrition does affect eyesight especially in poorer countries.

It's not just genetic but people will argue because they wear glasses and feel personally attacked

There's definitely an environmental factor in eyesight. I've been short sighted since childhood whereas my brother is absolutely fine. He spent his childhood outdoors playing sports and I sat in watching TV and reading books. There's also evidence that crooked teeth are amplified by eating too many soft foods as a child. There needs to be more awareness of this stuff (as I sit here with my glasses on and crooked teeth!)

I was aware there was some environmental effect but no idea it was material. I’m surprised more isn’t made of it.

Fantastic. Been reassuring DD that it was just bad luck and generics that her eyesight is deteriorating but apparently its not.

Ironically, if it gets a lot worse, she might have to give up her sport...

This comment will probably get deleted... but bad parenting.

If they only eat junk food (bad parenting), you can at least limit the amount they have to balance it out. It's not hard.

To be fair, I think the scientific community has been taken aback by the rapid rise in myopia, in large part because the rise is too rapid to be explained by genetics.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38297353/#:~:text=Conclusion%3A%20The%20environment%20exerts%20a,slow%20the%20progression%20of%20myopia.

Nearsightedness is a marker of intelligence due to myopia. Not everyone nearsighted is intelligence though there’s just a strong correlation.

Children can be born with myopia or it can develope and its usually noticeable ages 8-12. It’s down to the development of the eye in terms of length and width.

Ps.
Yes studies have found myopia can be down to reading at a young age. ie focusing on objects / books near to the eyes.

I don't think we will change food in schools unless it is a nationwide initiative. Now is the time to shout about it.
I believe talking to my son (former GB athlete) average height is declining but weight is increasing. This will happen through excess carbs. Protein increases bone mass, sugar does not.
I am fat (so no fat shaming here) but no longer obese. I was treated for illness with steriods. We have an increase in childhood asthma due to environmental factors and obviously it's treated with steroids. Has this contributed?
My DC are grown up but I do worry re the food in schools, it's a national disgrace. If anyone knows of a current campaign to change please sign post it. I'm happy to help.

I was a complete bookworm as a child and have only just needed reading glasses now aged 48. I probably had a good balance of being sporty and outdoors a lot too though. I didn't get square eyes either from watching a lot of TV.

Interestingly I automatically made a correlation as a child that people wearing glasses were clever. Perhaps it was a constantly reinforced stereotype on TV.

It is hard though.
We all know it is more expensive to eat healthier foods than not. There is a massive correlation between wealth and health (particularly obesity) - ie. the more affluent, the less likely to be obese. There are many factors to this ie. you can afford and have access to fresh, healthy food as well as a fully fitted kitchen with all the appliances& gadgets you need, you are able to pay energy bills without worry, you have a car to get to supermarkets, perhaps have more head space and time to be able to cook from scratch etc etc.
You can only eat what you have access to.

I dont find this.
I dont have a car.
I cook with a £30 pressure cooker.
My food bill for 3 adults per week is less than £80.
I work full time though I can WFH 3 days a week
My parents had even less money and they managed too. As do most first gen immigrants.

That's great you can do that. Working full time (and working from home) must be a big help both for money and time.

I think ultra processed food has a massive impact. It is quick, cheap, convenient, very widely available and addictive.

I don't believe one needs money to make good food. Cooking skills, yes, but I taught myself from books and the internet. My mum didnt teach me anything.

Most immigrants to the UK have NO money-none- and they manage to make great food while holding down physical jobs, though of course UPF has infiltrated in successsive generations.

There is a definite and widely acknowledged correlation though.

Dare I say then (and run away quickly) that causation is turned upside down here? maybe it's lack of drive/effort which leads to no cooking, poor diet and obesity AND being poor? and not vice versa?
As repeatedly said here, cooking healthy food is cheaper than buying ready made crap, but it does require effort.

TrustPenguins · Today 11:42
We all know it is more expensive to eat healthier foods than not. There is a massive correlation between wealth and health (particularly obesity) - ie. the more affluent, the less likely to be obese.

I think there's an undeniable correlation, but I think it's not just to do with being able to afford lovely fresh fruit and organic veg.

This comment will probably get deleted but I speak from experience, and if we can't be honest on this thread, then what's the point?

People struggling at the bottom of society's pyramid may have complex issues, all linked: low self-esteem, lack of ability to defer gratification, depressing surroundings (and neighbours) which/who stifle aspiration, and situations which mean they are reluctant to behave differently, dress or eat differently from their neighbours*

*Deferring gratification (in the form of saying no to children when necessary, or resisting eating certain foods for eg) has been linked to high-achievement and success in life. It's the self-discipline and imagination to understand that by denying yourself something right now (playing on the X box instead of revising for an exam, or eating a calorific snack, say, you'll gain an advantage later.)

**Lack of aspiration: when I was teaching, and when I lived next to neighbours in social housing, I was struck by their reaction to anyone who 'put their head above the parapet' in terms of clothes, keeping their gardens nice, disciplining their children etc. These people were criticised because they 'think they're better than us' etc. I found it eye-opening and very depressing. It's hard to have aspirations when you know it will provoke hostility from your neighbours, and you have no chance of escaping those miserable people.

So delete me!! 🤐

It can also be a lot of ignorance around good food too- not being able to cook, not knowing about nutrition. I know families where the parents themselves were raised on junk food and takeaways and they really have no idea how to cook properly. They've never seen it done. The whole idea of cooking healthy, nutritious meals from scratch is alien to them. Also they are so used to processed foods and junk foods that they imagine more healthy foods are disgusting. They think to lose weight they have to exist on salads (or rabbit food as they call it). They don't understand how delicious good foods can be.
I'm not saying this is the case for everyone who's poor and overweight (of course not!) but I've seen quite a few families like this.

Yes, agree with this. UPF was not part of my culture- I was raised veggie for one- and while we had the occasional margarita pizza it just did not enter my home.There were plenty of treats but all home made.