As parents, we need to take responsibility for our children’s health and lead by example. Parents can help prevent their children from suffering the effects of childhood obesity by setting a good example for their own children, change eating habits, and exercise plans to teach them to live healthy lifestyles (Edmunds,
It is estimated that the number of overweight children has doubled in the last two to three decades. This article also associates obesity to mothers while the child is in utero and there should be emphasis placed on family behaviors proper diet after weaning of a child and making information available to help reduce childhood obesity. The Arthur recommends the following to decrease obesity at the prenatal stage he recommends good prenatal health and nutrition. In infancy it is said that mothers should breast feed until 6 months of age and do not give solid foods until a child is over six months and at that time introduce a diet that is well balanced and snacks that are low in calories. At the preschool age foods should be given that are healthy and keep children away from junk foods.
MODEL CRITIQUE* Critique of Greg Critser’s “Too Much of a Good Thing” Citing statistics on the alarming increase in the rates of childhood obesity, especially in the industrialized West, Greg Critser (L.A. Times Op-Ed, 22 July 2001) argues that parents can help avert obesity in their own homes by more closely supervising the diets of their children, serving reasonably sized portions, and limiting snacks. Critser, who has extensively researched obesity in his book Fat Land: How Americans Become the Fattest People in the World (Houghton Mifflin 2003), argues that through education we can create a leaner cultural norm, much as the French did earlier in the century when faced with a similar problem. The stakes for maintaining a healthy body weight
A 100% tax on junk food and beverages would help pay for the collateral damages of this industry: the $150 billion in diet-related disease and health-care costs now incurred by the public and taxpayers for obesity and diabetes. Chicago laws strictly curbing school sales of junk food and sweetened drinks may play a role in slowing childhood obesity, according to a study that seems to offer the first evidence such efforts could pay off. The results come from the first large national look at the effectiveness of the state laws over time. The results are minor but “what are the downsides of improving the food environment for children today?” asked Dr. David Ludwig, an obesity specialist at Harvard Medical School and Boston’s Children Hospital. “You can’t get much worse than what it already
When a doctor provides medication for obesity, should childhood obesity then be labeled as a disease if it can be prevented? The facts show that due to environmental and genetics obesity can be prevented if parental guidance is evident and exercise is utilized properly. Childhood obesity is a serious growing problem in our nation. If people had the facts of obesity, eat healthier, and made time to exercise efficiently one could live a longer, happier, and healthy life. “Our children are our future.” Childhood obesity will continue to influence the next few generations with knowledge of the BMI criteria associated health issues with the now called disease America could live a healthier happy life.
The second presentation was given by Dr. Rachel Crowther; she talked about what the National Childhood Obesity Database is doing to prevent childhood obesity. She spoke about the different ways to determine if your child is becoming obese. The third presentation was given by Dr. Bridges; he said that doctors need to be realistic with the goals that they set with their outpatients. He said if the goals aren’t realistic then the outpatient might become discouraged and might lose weight at that time but gain it right back in the long run. This article help me in all kinds of ways, I figured out that childhood obesity is a large issue in this day and age.
With about two-thirds of Americans being obese, the Obama administration has been fighting hard to help Americans with the issue of obesity. Michelle Obama even made her apolitical personal project as first lady to teach Americans healthier eating habits(401). Warner continues in the article to say that we as a nation need to change our culture of food to begin to actually reverse our unhealthy habits. According to Warner, we need to make eating healthily, the cool or “desirable” thing to do. Specifically, she notes, that it should be a “freely chosen” option, not one that is forced by some governmental regulation or law(402).
While some argued that it is the fault of food industries, and for some, fault of consumers, it can easily be resolved with two words: self-responsibility. Therefore, consumers are definitely the ones responsible for the current epidemic in this country. The first reason why consumers are responsible for America’s obesity epidemic is because consumers are the ones that choose what to eat and feed their children. There are many alternatives to fast food but most people rather not take their time to prepare for a healthier meal. In “The Battle against Fast Food Begins in Home”, author Daniel Weibtraub tries to convince parents to take a stand and fend off obesity in their homes.
Daisy Corona Mrs.Montgomerey English 4 20 August 2012 Fast Food: Who’s to blame? Daniel Weintraub’s the author of “The Battle against Fast Food Begins in the Home” implies that American children with in the years have gained unnecessary pounds due to fast food and the only ones responsible to that concept are the parents. He affirms that the parents are in the best position to fight the epidemic of overweight children. I agree that Parents are responsible for teaching healthy eating and exercise habits. It is time to get parents to take the same responsibility to protect their children from unhealthy foods and lack of exercise.
When parents model healthy eating decisions and physical activity, their children’s health can be influenced in a positive way (AHA, 2008). The amount of time spent watching television or using the computer should be limited to fewer than 2 hours each day (MayoClinic, 2012). By limiting the time spent sitting at the computer and lounging on the couch while watching television, it is easier to control the amount of snacking that takes place, and increase the likelihood that the child will exercise rather than sitting inactively at a computer or TV. Prevention of childhood obesity is simple and necessary. It is extremely important for parents and children to know how to prevent childhood obesity before it is too