Doctors say childhood obesity is neglect - do you agree?

[mylittlefreya]

The article is here

I think it's interesting the comment about undernourished children being automatically a cause for concern, but its almost not politically correct to say the same about overfed children.

I also think peoples perceptions can be quite distorted - there is a big difference between chubby, and obese, but often I don't think people see this.

At some level this worries me and at another it relieves me.

What do other people think?

cos we havent got time.

sugar is dreadfully bad for you btw but less bad for you when mixed with other stuff

biscuits only take 10 minutes to make the physical action of making them would burn a few calories ..

I always find it funny when people used to drive to the gym I went to (and then struggle to find a parking space). A good run would start a workout off beautifully

when i get home from work at 6 - whcih isn ot an unreasonable time for those who work full time - i imagine a high proportion don't get home until later. after either i or my husband have cooked the tea, washed the pots, perhaps done some chores - the children too all chipping in. by the time ti have completed homework, dealt with the teenage drama of the day, perhaps i may need to wash a uniform, darn a blazer, draw some abstract with dd for art homework, for i have two children who have homework and need help.

maybe i would like to sit on my arse and do a whole lot of fucka ll

make fucking biscuits - are you shitting me? i can hardly draw a bath

Hi GANNFT ( blimey!)
sadly hugely different outcomes.
Her kids are lovely but eldest child is obese and youngest is already 'stocky'. My three are very active and very fit ( and very slender as well although that is the least important of the three).

The other thing about crap food that so often gets overlooked is its effect on mental health. I don't think it is any conincidence that both her kids seem to have low level depression. Of course I know that being overweight can of itself make you feel depressed but I know that if I eat junk for any period of time my mood sinks - and then i crave more of the same. The cycle can become a downward one so fast. The bloody manufacturers should be held more accountable for using additives to promote cravings ( msg etc) to increase sale ........" Once you pop you just can't stop".

I make them at the weekend I do it with my dd, they can be stored. If you haven't got time then have a piece of fruit instead, there's no prep required. It's not rocket science.

I think that sometimes people view 'neglect' as meaning deliberate, willful casing of harm.

many, many children are neglected, and sometimes even abusued, not because the parents don't love the kids, but because the parents simply don't know any better. And this is often because they had a similarly negleted childhood themselves and they lack the inner rousources (and external resuources) to change their pattern of behaviour.

Exceptionaly small numbers of parents cause deliberate harm to their childre.

It doesn't stop it being neglect, but it may not be intentional.

Oh please, saying that childhood obesity is all the fault of Wicked (working) Women who don't make their own biscuits...

yo babe, you were talking about making biscuits, i most distinctly was not asking for health advice from you

so the rocket science comment was unwarrented.

i know whats healthy and whats not. I am trying to point out to you that your sanctimonious " if i can be perfect every one can" attitude , can be somewhat faulty depending on your lifestyle.

Whilst at the same time making it nigh on impossible to live on one wage, particularly if you are a working poor.

I disagree, it's easy to prepare quick healthy cheap meals. It just requires a little foreward planning.

Slightly different article McD's milkshake in a bottle

Apparently if you work you don't have time to feed your children a healthy diet and if you don't you can't afford to. There's not much hope for us.

It requires forward planning, information, understanding and confidence.

many people have no idea what healthy food is, or have the confidence, cash and education to put it together.

And it isn't their fault. Schools have stopped teaching kids how to cook, they now 'design food products'. And for those kids who parents can't cook either, they are stuck.

Anyway I'm far from perfect but providing a healthy meal is a priority for me, other things have to give, the house can be a mess, I rush around and end up at work with no bra, and send dd to nursery in odd clothes as I haven't had chance to do a wash, its swings and roundabouts. But I never compromise on diet.

It also requires a realistic attitude to size and body shape, which this culture does not have.

(I am not, incidentally, particularly fat should my earlier post have given that impression. And I make my own fecking flapjacks.)

I think it is neglect of education.

Overweight people (not those who are genuinely with an underlying condition) need to be re-educated in how to eat and what to eat and how much to eat. Why do you need a pint of cola over a pint of water? Why white bread over wholemeal?

But in response to OP - yes it is neglect to feed your children so badly that you are endagering their health and well being. It makes me so sad when I see fat children.

Message withdrawn

You can make meals as hard or as difficult as you choose. A cheese sandwich and an apple makes a nutritious lunch for a small child. it can be on the table in about five minutes.

I agree with MI.

(who, incidentaly isn't in the slightest bit overweight, but I rather think this is because she is Captain Energy and burns up all those flap jacks! )

We're living in the information age I don't really get how people can't know about diet. If you can't look after yourself or your children in such a basic way then there is something seriously wrong with our culture.

why can't people buy a book

because not everyone can read
and if money is really tight you don't have enough money for a book