Childhood obesity being targeted (Full Version)

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fiery -> Childhood obesity being targeted (2/21/2009 9:47:01 PM)

Bill Clinton and the American Heart Association joined forces in support of a national initiative to combat childhood obesity. About time too! I don't remember ever seeing so many obese kids when I was young as there are nowadays. What happened that it's so common now?

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fiery -> RE: Childhood obesity being targeted (4/18/2009 3:42:29 PM)

I was reading that 1 in 5 preschoolers are obese now. Really this is a huge problem that needs to be addressed. If you're obese at that age, what chance have you got of shedding that lifestyle? And the blame lies squarely on the shoulders of parents at that age, barring any medical issues of course.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30072958/



dianerene -> RE: Childhood obesity being targeted (4/18/2009 10:28:41 PM)

it's heartbreaking.  I have seen day time tv shows that show moms who refuse to stand up to their YOUNG children about their eating habits because they fear their tantrums.  it makes me sick.  I know it is daytime tv and it's exaggerated some, but I also know there IS truth to it.
when I worked in the group home we had a 10 year old that weighed 220 pounds.  she was taken away from her mother because her mother refused help from the state.  the girl had a medical issue that contributed to the weight problem, but mom refused to learn how to make healthier meals that worked with the condition and would have helped the child lose weight.
it was so sad to see because the mom definitely loved her daughter and did not intentionally neglect her health issues, it was more of a cultural thing ... mom did not fully understand why her daughter was gaining more and more weight, while she ate the same foods and stayed very thin.



fiery -> RE: Childhood obesity being targeted (4/19/2009 11:52:48 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: dianerene

it's heartbreaking.  I have seen day time tv shows that show moms who refuse to stand up to their YOUNG children about their eating habits because they fear their tantrums.  it makes me sick.  I know it is daytime tv and it's exaggerated some, but I also know there IS truth to it.
when I worked in the group home we had a 10 year old that weighed 220 pounds.  she was taken away from her mother because her mother refused help from the state.  the girl had a medical issue that contributed to the weight problem, but mom refused to learn how to make healthier meals that worked with the condition and would have helped the child lose weight.
it was so sad to see because the mom definitely loved her daughter and did not intentionally neglect her health issues, it was more of a cultural thing ... mom did not fully understand why her daughter was gaining more and more weight, while she ate the same foods and stayed very thin.


I don't understand why though if the reason has been discovered and ways to resolve it have been voiced, then the next step of implementing them isn't taken by the parent. In that particular case you mention, you say she refused to do it. Ok, maybe she didn't fully understand why but wouldn't you as the parent still be willing to at least try it? Even if only to say, see I knew it wouldn't work if it didn't? You've got to try but of course, no one can make you and sadly inaction has consequences just the same way action does.



dianerene -> RE: Childhood obesity being targeted (4/19/2009 1:37:03 PM)

I'm not really sure why in this case she didn't.  I do know that the girl was difficult to manage with 3 adult staff members all day, everyday, so I can only imagine that the poor mom, who did it all alone, would have been stretched beyong her limits!  the girl was also developmentally disabled and spoke a mixture of spanish and babble that only her mother understood. it was trying for us, but we grew to love her and were so sad when she finally left our group home.

the social worker on the case said mom was totally at fault for not complying, but that she was a proud woman who had raised her daughter on her own for 10 years and thought she was giving up some of that pride by accpeting help from the state. 

it was all confusing to me, and the way I looked at it was, I was there for the kids and the parents were a part I was happy NOT to deal with ... since most of those children were in the home for horrible abuse and neglect, I was happy to pretend that part did not exist.



fiery -> RE: Childhood obesity being targeted (4/25/2009 1:36:31 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: dianerene

I'm not really sure why in this case she didn't.  I do know that the girl was difficult to manage with 3 adult staff members all day, everyday, so I can only imagine that the poor mom, who did it all alone, would have been stretched beyong her limits!  the girl was also developmentally disabled and spoke a mixture of spanish and babble that only her mother understood. it was trying for us, but we grew to love her and were so sad when she finally left our group home.

the social worker on the case said mom was totally at fault for not complying, but that she was a proud woman who had raised her daughter on her own for 10 years and thought she was giving up some of that pride by accpeting help from the state. 

it was all confusing to me, and the way I looked at it was, I was there for the kids and the parents were a part I was happy NOT to deal with ... since most of those children were in the home for horrible abuse and neglect, I was happy to pretend that part did not exist.


I see...thanks for sharing the extra info. I don't know if I could ever have held my tongue had I had to deal with the parents. I always wanted to be a social worker but I don't think I have the temperament for that side of it. I can be very "speak now, think later" unfortunately. I am what I am. [>:][:D]



Thelma -> RE: Childhood obesity being targeted (6/4/2009 1:23:09 PM)

A lot of kids are very inactive nowadays.  Too many video games, cartoons and electronic gadgets.  When I was a kid we were outside from dawn til dusk swimming, biking and playing.....not to mention all the chores we had to do. 

Fast food is another big problem.  There was one fast food place in town when I was growing up and we MAYBE got burgers (no super sized anything back then) once every 2 months.  My youngest son said every Monday in Health class this year the teacher would ask the students, "Who ate fast food over the weekend?"  Most of the students would raise their hand.  And as if fast food isn't bad enough for us, they have much larger portions now.  The Arby's here will automatically supersize your meal unless you specify you want small or medium.  I think that's crazy!

There are so many health problems related with obesity, I don't know how a parent could NOT take action to help their child learn to live a healthier lifestyle. 



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