sfuguy Posted July 12, 2011 Report Share Posted July 12, 2011 http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/story/2011/07/12/obese-children-custody.html I agree that severely overweight toddlers (ages 2-4) could be due to the lack of education or neglect of parents, but I also think that obesity in older kids is a combo of factors and separation may not be the answer!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mithril Posted July 12, 2011 Report Share Posted July 12, 2011 You take away these kids from their parents and you're just asking for mental anguish. There are so many other alternatives that can be implemented to curb obesity. Obesity in western nations is a societal problem rather than a parental one. Parents can try to educate their kids and promote healthy lifestyles, but if big little Billy is being bombarded by McDonald's advertisements on the TV and at the park benches, then parents can only do so much. Changes will need to come at all levels of society. This is assuming that obesity is due to poor nutrition and eating habits rather than due to hormonal or genetic abnormalities. Would the latter also be considered child abuse? That would be unjustified. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sfuguy Posted July 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 12, 2011 You take away these kids from their parents and you're just asking for mental anguish. There are so many other alternatives that can be implemented to curb obesity. Obesity in western nations is a societal problem rather than a parental one. Parents can try to educate their kids and promote healthy lifestyles, but if big little Billy is being bombarded by McDonald's advertisements on the TV and at the park benches, then parents can only do so much. Changes will need to come at all levels of society. This is assuming that obesity is due to poor nutrition and eating habits rather than due to hormonal or genetic abnormalities. Would the latter also be considered child abuse? That would be unjustified. I wanted to write more but had to do something (at work!). You raise a good point and I was initially really, really skeptical about how influential mcdonalds and the like really are. Then walking down the street with my 1.5 year son and passing mcdonalds and guess what he said....MCDONALD's and continued that he wanted a burger, fries and a toy!!! They actually recognize this at such a young age!!!! I was so surprised!!! In our case, yes we do have McDs from time to time and when we go...its definetly all out...no apple slices!!! BUT not everyday! But I agree that it is tough for parents and I do agree that big corps do undermine parents in this respect Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astrogirl Posted July 12, 2011 Report Share Posted July 12, 2011 Yeah, maybe foster care could be considered as an absolute last resort if the parents have proven themselves to be hostile towards attempted interventions and neglectful (like not allowing their 400 pound 12-year-old to take medication for diabetes or high blood pressure). But taking the kids away from their parents is not going to solve the problem. Creating emotional upheaval doesn't generally help obese people to lose weight. A better alternative (assuming the kid doesn't have an underlying medical condition that is causing obesity) would be to have the family work closely with a dietician and social worker to redesign their eating habits and provide support to the family to get the kid involved in some kind of sports or exercise program. If the family is completely unwilling to make lifestyle changes and the kid's life is in danger, then maybe foster care could be looked at, but I think there are a lot of other options to try first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sfuguy Posted July 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 12, 2011 Here is another problem...MONEY!!! It costs to eat well. Example: Chicken breast! The best price I have seen is 13/kg, so it is more expensive to feed your family a lean meat like this than it is to eat cheaper, less healthy alternatives Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brenne Posted July 12, 2011 Report Share Posted July 12, 2011 Thanks for bringing this issue to my attention. I think that is a horrible concept on so many levels. First, consider the emotional trauma to children and their parents and other family members. Secondly, government authorities can't even rescue children who are seriously abused by their parents, so who's to say that this plan would be any more successful? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgt.pepper Posted July 15, 2011 Report Share Posted July 15, 2011 its more of parental problem. Control your kids, say no! A 4year old wont take 10$ and walk to McDs, they need money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aaronjw Posted July 15, 2011 Report Share Posted July 15, 2011 Here is another problem...MONEY!!! It costs to eat well. Example: Chicken breast! The best price I have seen is 13/kg, so it is more expensive to feed your family a lean meat like this than it is to eat cheaper, less healthy alternatives No it does not. biggest myth going is that eating healthy costs more. It most certainly does not. Example: whole roasted chicken from grocery store + salad (lettuce, tomatoes and dressing) and 4 whole wheat buns = $15 and feeds 4 people Mc****s: 4 burger combo's with drinks and fries is what, $6 each? So $24 1 can of tuna, some mayo and a whole wheat bun with a bottle of water = $2.50 1 sub or slice of pizza = $4+ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aaronjw Posted July 15, 2011 Report Share Posted July 15, 2011 its more of parental problem. Control your kids, say no! A 4year old wont take 10$ and walk to McDs, they need money. Bingo. If you, as a parent, teach good eating lessons to your kids then they will not be as easily inclined to choose fast food when they get old. Its a total parental problem until kids get to ages where they can make decisions for themselves and have the finances to buy said junk foods. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aaronjw Posted July 15, 2011 Report Share Posted July 15, 2011 Thanks for bringing this issue to my attention. I think that is a horrible concept on so many levels. First, consider the emotional trauma to children and their parents and other family members. Secondly, government authorities can't even rescue children who are seriously abused by their parents, so who's to say that this plan would be any more successful? You dont think a a girl weighing 400lbs at 12 years old isnt child abuse? It may not be the type of abuse we're used to hearing about but make no mistake it is child abuse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simpy Posted July 15, 2011 Report Share Posted July 15, 2011 No it does not. biggest myth going is that eating healthy costs more. It most certainly does not. Example: whole roasted chicken from grocery store + salad (lettuce, tomatoes and dressing) and 4 whole wheat buns = $15 and feeds 4 people Mc****s: 4 burger combo's with drinks and fries is what, $6 each? So $24 1 can of tuna, some mayo and a whole wheat bun with a bottle of water = $2.50 1 sub or slice of pizza = $4+ Those grocery store whole roasted chickens are amazing. I have this great cherry balsamic vinaigrette that goes super well on a chicken salad with tomatoes and red peppers (especially if vidalia or maui onions are in season). Great with a nice sweet, yeasty bread like challah. It's like my summer staple. 2 nice big dinners and a lunch for a total of $20. Less if you have access to those giant mutant Costco roasted chickens at $5.99 each. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aaronjw Posted July 15, 2011 Report Share Posted July 15, 2011 Those grocery store whole roasted chickens are amazing. I have this great cherry balsamic vinaigrette that goes super well on a chicken salad with tomatoes and red peppers (especially if vidalia or maui onions are in season). Great with a nice sweet, yeasty bread like challah. It's like my summer staple. 2 nice big dinners and a lunch for a total of $20. Less if you have access to those giant mutant Costco roasted chickens at $5.99 each. Thanks for the suggestion. I picked up 4 at costco today Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mithril Posted July 16, 2011 Report Share Posted July 16, 2011 its more of parental problem. Control your kids, say no! A 4year old wont take 10$ and walk to McDs, they need money. Bingo. If you, as a parent, teach good eating lessons to your kids then they will not be as easily inclined to choose fast food when they get old. Its a total parental problem until kids get to ages where they can make decisions for themselves and have the finances to buy said junk foods. It's not nearly as easy as both of you make it out to be. Yes, you can limit the number of times you let your kid to eat at McDonald's, but that was merely an example. A normal diet with a completely sedentary lifestyle can also lead to obesity. Schools cutting recess out of the curriculum and serving 600-calorie lunches can also lead to obesity. Cuts in sports and PE programs can also lead to obesity. This is more than just limiting a parent's finances for eating fast food; it extends much further than that. I'll also mention that the foster care system is already quite overloaded. How will the system handle the extra 1.6 million children in Canada that are overweight or obese? The latter is just one logistical consideration to take into account when taking kids away from their parents for weight-related problems is used as a first, rather than as a last, resort. The first step should be education rather than punishment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aaronjw Posted July 16, 2011 Report Share Posted July 16, 2011 It's not nearly as easy as both of you make it out to be. Yes, you can limit the number of times you let your kid to eat at McDonald's, but that was merely an example. A normal diet with a completely sedentary lifestyle can also lead to obesity. Schools cutting recess out of the curriculum and serving 600-calorie lunches can also lead to obesity. Cuts in sports and PE programs can also lead to obesity. This is more than just limiting a parent's finances for eating fast food; it extends much further than that. I'll also mention that the foster care system is already quite overloaded. How will the system handle the extra 1.6 million children in Canada that are overweight or obese? The latter is just one logistical consideration to take into account when taking kids away from their parents for weight-related problems is used as a first, rather than as a last, resort. The first step should be education rather than punishment. There's a large difference between overweight and a KID weighing 250, 300, 350, 400lbs. Lots of things can lead to this and sure education can help but how clueless can one be to know that if you're 10 year old kid is 250lbs that perhaps we shouldnt be feeding him the types of food we have been or that maybe, just maybe we should have him find some friends and play outside or take them for a bike ride instead of letting them plunk their butt in front of a TV pr play videp games? I coach kids football (13 and 14 year olds right now) and we have 4 kids who weigh over 200lbs with one around 225 and another that's over 250. They arent that tall either. You see their parents come to get them and the apple hasnt fallen far from the tree... As someone who works a lot with kids in various coaching roles this is a pretty common sight and a troubling one for me. Life as a kid is hard enough let alone being the "fat kid" so when i see these things i have to place blame on the parents first as these kids arent old enough to make their own food decisions nor do they have the means to get food they want (lack of money to buy, vehicle to go get). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasRolland Posted August 16, 2011 Report Share Posted August 16, 2011 I think we should stop being so judgmental of other people's bodies. A lot of "fit"/"buff" people who work out with weights have serious body image problems and deep insecurities that would give a psychiatrist a headache. Besides kids will be kids and we should let them enjoy their childhood. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mm88 Posted August 17, 2011 Report Share Posted August 17, 2011 I think we should stop being so judgmental of other people's bodies. A lot of "fit"/"buff" people who work out with weights have serious body image problems and deep insecurities that would give a psychiatrist a headache. Besides kids will be kids and we should let them enjoy their childhood. I'm sure some people would take offense to your allegation that many fit people need to go see the shrink. Some people simply like to take care of their bodies and keep it in top shape so they can enjoy a high quality of life without disease and restrictions now AND later on in life. Some people also need to be fit for their jobs such as firefighters, so that kind of statement is just insulting. I don't imagine that a 400lb kid will be enjoying their childhood too much for various reasons: -constant teasing and verbal abuse from other kids -unable to participate in games and sports with their peers, leads to further isolation and teasing -health problems associated to obesity such as diabetes; name me a 10 year old that likes to get poked by needles on a regular basis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jojoluvsu2 Posted August 18, 2011 Report Share Posted August 18, 2011 Besides kids will be kids and we should let them enjoy their childhood. The article isn't talking about taking the kinda pudgy kid and removing them from their family. It's talking about the 200 pound 8 year old kid. That's not a "kid being a kid". While I don't agree 100% with removing the kid from the family, I do think someone on the outside of the situation should step in and see what needs to be done to address it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaybird Posted September 20, 2011 Report Share Posted September 20, 2011 I think we should stop being so judgmental of other people's bodies. A lot of "fit"/"buff" people who work out with weights have serious body image problems and deep insecurities that would give a psychiatrist a headache. Besides kids will be kids and we should let them enjoy their childhood. I would certainly argue that a 300 pound child is not enjoying much of anything, between health problems and social stigma. Political correctness about obesity has gone way too far - yes, anorexia is a terrible thing, but you know what else is? Obesity. They both lead to health issues, they both lead to mental issues, and they both need to be dealt with. Thanks for the suggestion. I picked up 4 at costco today Found 3 frozen chickens for $20 today. Guess I'm having plenty of chicken for the foreseeable future Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aaronjw Posted September 20, 2011 Report Share Posted September 20, 2011 I would certainly argue that a 300 pound child is not enjoying much of anything, between health problems and social stigma. Political correctness about obesity has gone way too far - yes, anorexia is a terrible thing, but you know what else is? Obesity. They both lead to health issues, they both lead to mental issues, and they both need to be dealt with. I agree. This summer I coached 3 boys (aged 12-14) who were all well over 225lbs and one who was over 250lbs. At an average height. At look at their parents gleamed a pretty good insight into what "home cooking" is like. I felt bad for them, especially the 250lb+ kid. Happy that he was out there being active and happy that, apparently, compared to last year he was miles ahead of where he was at this year (in general ability to do simple physical activities like jogging or running a hill for more than 15 seconds without passing out or looking like he was about to die). Being a kid is hard enough without being the "fatty" and the social stigma amongst his peers can lead to major psychological issues during youth and into adulthood. Now factor in the health aspects of diabetes, joint problems, blood pressure, etc, etc, etc, etc and being obese (at any age but especially as a child) is HUGE (no pun intended) problem. If an adult wants to choose their path in life then I guess that's their right but a kid only knows what he is taught. How many 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 year olds have the financial capability to eat the type and quantity of food that would lead to such weight issues? It has to come from somewhere... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chic0 Posted September 20, 2011 Report Share Posted September 20, 2011 Thanks for bringing this issue to my attention. I think that is a horrible concept on so many levels. First, consider the emotional trauma to children and their parents and other family members. Secondly, government authorities can't even rescue children who are seriously abused by their parents, so who's to say that this plan would be any more successful? But I think that, this issue must be resolved. It's very necessary to understand the emotional trauma of the children. Parents will have to be careful enough to before abusing their children.The abuses actually, effects them to a great extent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colakyngo Posted October 10, 2011 Report Share Posted October 10, 2011 Hi, I agreed with you. Any way, your points of view make me thinking about some thing for my project. Pls try to keep posting. Tks and best regards Apart from that, you also can ref more resources at: Financial specialist interview questions Goodluck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lunasly Posted January 2, 2012 Report Share Posted January 2, 2012 No it does not. biggest myth going is that eating healthy costs more. It most certainly does not. Example: whole roasted chicken from grocery store + salad (lettuce, tomatoes and dressing) and 4 whole wheat buns = $15 and feeds 4 people Mc****s: 4 burger combo's with drinks and fries is what, $6 each? So $24 1 can of tuna, some mayo and a whole wheat bun with a bottle of water = $2.50 1 sub or slice of pizza = $4+ You are right in that is it is cheaper in the long-run to eat home made meals. However, there is another side to the problem. I have two good friends who currently live on their own. They live on one income so money is tight especially with rent and other bills. However, the way you need to look at this is what is more feasible. Most people who live on their own find it more financially feasible to go out and purchase a few McDonald's cheese burgers, fries, and coke all for around $6 (dollar menu) - or they can spend $10 and get 50 chicken McNuggets. However, the other option is that they go to the store and spend say $80 - $100 of groceries that will last them a week. Most people on low incomes, however, can afford to spend $100 in a single go and will often just purchase a $6 meal or several meals if they get the chicken McNugget meal. Now I know we are talking about families as opposed to individuals, but the same principals still apply. A large family on a low income (one parent works) may not go to McDonalds, but will instead buy several cheap frozen meals in bulk. This sound more reasonable because larger families have higher rent to pay and more bills. What about the cost of electricity to cook your meats. What if you need to work long hours in a day to support yourself and don't have time to cook? What if you don't know how to cook? What about all of the cutlery? The pots and pans. I don't think the fast food industry would be as profitable as it is today if it was not a feasible alternative to cooking a home. In today's society, it is and that is why we have this problem. It's not nearly as easy as both of you make it out to be. Yes, you can limit the number of times you let your kid to eat at McDonald's, but that was merely an example. A normal diet with a completely sedentary lifestyle can also lead to obesity. Schools cutting recess out of the curriculum and serving 600-calorie lunches can also lead to obesity. Cuts in sports and PE programs can also lead to obesity. This is more than just limiting a parent's finances for eating fast food; it extends much further than that. I'll also mention that the foster care system is already quite overloaded. How will the system handle the extra 1.6 million children in Canada that are overweight or obese? The latter is just one logistical consideration to take into account when taking kids away from their parents for weight-related problems is used as a first, rather than as a last, resort. The first step should be education rather than punishment. The first step is already education, though. Throughout school you are made aware of the importance of a healthy life style. However, it is the fault of todays society as we know it that is the issue at hand. You can educate parents and children to participate in physical activity and healthy eating all you want, but the fact of the matter is that children and teenagers do not often find pleasure in committing to a healthy and active life style. You go to a classroom today and you ask kids what they like: Video games, TV, iPad, etc, because they find pleasure in with engaging with any one of those activities. While promotion of such information is important, it certainly has not helped anyone so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taiga gal Posted January 3, 2012 Report Share Posted January 3, 2012 it actually does cost a lot more to buy nutritious foods in remote, fly in communities. many Aboriginal people who live in said communities are developing diabetes, because of this. i.e., it is cheaper to buy orange soda for their kid instead of pure OJ .the transition from a traditional to western lifestyle has made a huge impact on families, compounded by the good ol' tv. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FitnessFreak Posted January 15, 2012 Report Share Posted January 15, 2012 The cost to eat well is a factor that can't be ignored -- not only financial costs, but time costs as well. I firmly believe that one of the biggest limiting factors to healthy eating for the majority of people is the time to prepare it. It is 100x easier to just grab some take-out or one-step meals (read high fat, high carb, high sodium) than it is to pull out some chicken breast, cook it up, and make your salad and potato for a side. Not that it's impossible, but it would definitely require a lot more organization and pre-planning. I think this would be a good place to start with families who are having a hard time with healthy eating. Most people are already educated on the dangers of a poor diet. They just lack the resources or self-efficacy to be able to make more healthful choices. I definitely advocate for support to help people plan their days to make it easier to prepare healthy, enjoyable, and cost-effective meals for their families. Another important area to understand is WHY people choose to eat what they do. There is a big psychosocial component to eating. Understanding what triggers one to make poorer diet choices will help them find healthier alternatives or otherwise take control of their particular inclinations. Sorry, my writing is a little scattered (it is tough to type on an iPad...even tougher on the iPhone). When I went through my contest dieting, I found that my food prep and emotional issues were my biggest obstacles to overcome. I'll concur that contest prep requires more rigid dieting practices. However, it also caused me to critically evaluate my normal eating patterns and take steps towards developing more healthy eating habits when not dieting. Verbal vomit over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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