SubscribeBusy Parents: Fat Teens
There is an overwhelming volume of research linking childhood obesity with different parenting techniques. It can seem like a "tough call" to parents who have been doing their level best to raise their children well.
Now more research has appeared that draws a link between a busy working parent and overweight teenagers.
The research was presented at a conference in Sydney, Australia (via the Age):
Mothers who worked more than 30 hours were more inclined to turn to fast food for family meals, and teenagers left unsupervised at home were more inclined to snack in front of the TV or computer.The research appears to be looking at consumer habits. It seems that whomever buys the food (that will be eaten unsupervised) is ultimately contributing to teenage weight problems.
In some ways - that's obvious. If you have a pantry brimming with junk food - then neither you or your child will reaching for carrot sticks and broccoli to snack on.
This research adds to a bewildering array of childhood obesity "theories":
- Parenting style too strict
- The wrong kinds of toys
- Too much TV
- No exercise
- Kids cannot regulate appetite
May I suggest that it is a combination of all the above factors? Attempting to single out just one reason completely oversimplifies the issue - and neither can we cast the entire blame on the parents. At some point in a teenagers life personal responsibility must be exercised.
This particular research shows that, once again, a busy lifestyle does not imply a healthy one. We can throw easy answers at the issue - but when a parent has approximately 13 minutes to rush through the supermarket - the glossy processed foods sitting at eye level will always be the ones to go into the trolley.
I think it's quite unfair the way this focused on mothers. All after, if women are the only ones with the responsibility to feed the children, and now women are working, of course there will be less time dedicated to good nutritional choices.
ReplyBut there's no way that we're going to get women to start staying home - it's not only inequitable (and potentially damaging to mental health for some women) but it's economically unfeasible for a lot of families. The answer is two fold - to divide nutrition responsibilites between parents so that more overall time is devoted to it, and to make good nutrition easier. (bagged salad leaves and pre-cut veggies, anyone?)
I'm not really sure what is so different now than when I was a teenager. My mother was a single, working mother and she fed me nutritious from scratch food 98% of the time. That was only 25 years ago, so it's not like there weren't McDonalds on about 6 intersections on her way home or plenty of processed foods available. Maybe it's just the way SHE was taught how to provide for her family rather than the way generations after hers were taught. Why are parents so much busier today than they were 25 years ago? I think all of our modern conveniences have made being healthy extremely INconvenient.
ReplyI agree. For our kids, the convenient and best tasting things are almost always the worst for them. It's been a struggle teaching the kids good eating habits, but as they are only 6 and 4, we can see that it is paying off. Just the simple thing of always reminding them of what foods are good for them and what are not seems to go a long ways. There is no way our 4 year old would know that french fries are bad for him on his own, but he now knows that apples are good snacks and chocolate is not, and if he is actually hungry, he has a better chance asking for an apple than some candy.
The other big trouble for us is applying those eating habits to ourselves!! ;-)
ReplyThanks to Claire (first comment).
Yes, once again women (mothers in particular) are copping the blame. Why not? We've been blamedfor just about every other ill to befall humanity, so why not blame us for juvenile obesity as well?
Whatever happened to diet being the domain and responsibility of *parents*, not just mothers? Where are the fathers in this?
Oh - I forgot. They're probably in their favourite chair, with their feet up, reading the paper and waiting to be served.
ReplyI'm not a mother yet.
But, as far as I'm concerned I'm not obesed although my mom was working. She was busy with the job because she wanted to give only the best for me. Yet, she was strict about my food from the very beginning.
If I've ever gained weight a bit, I was just not following her rules. She can't be blamed, I can't either be blamed. There are other factors than just human errors.
For moms whose kids are still young, just keep teaching them the healthy eating habit. If they can't absorb any of your rules now, one day they will.
ReplyI completely understand the demands that are placed on single parents or dual-income families due to lack of time. However, I think that with a little extra planning, they can provide nutritious food for themselves and their children.
One of the things that worked best in my family is cooking only twice a week. Cook big meals on Sunday and Wednesday that can be stored in containers in the refrigerator until needed. Keep in mind, that even big meals like this can be prepared in 30 minutes or less.
ReplyBoth of my parents worked full time and they always fed us healthy foods. Some of their strategies were: buying very minimally processed foods, splitting up the cooking/prepping duties, taking us kids with them to the store and teaching us about healthy food choices, buying milk and water to drink instead of overpriced juice drinks, not buying a video game system, and not shoving food at us to shut us up when we whined. I think a lot of parents do that...give kids a juice box and some cookies and plop them in front of TV or a nintendo game so they stay out of the way. I don't think it's all that difficult to feed your family healthily, you just have to make a minimal effort. I go shopping when I have plenty of time so I can plan my meals and list out (so I don't grab processed crap) and if I am in a rush, bagged salads and precut veggies/fruits are a great timesaver.
ReplyIf there was just one reason for obesity (teen or adult) it would be easier to correct. And just as there are many causes, there can be many solutions.
I would suggest to parents to stop feeling blamed, and start feeling empowered! Get in the driver seat and teach your kids to make healthy choices. You will change their life.
Start by making small changes that will make a big difference. Like get rid of the soda and juice in your house. That's right, teach your teenager to drink water rather than Mt. Dew. Drink water. Radical. It won't be easy.
Remember, parenting isn't about you.
ReplyHi, Im Ally and Im a teenager.Im writing a comment so people know about a teens point of view.Not all of us are fat kids who eat chocolate all day.Some of us(like me) are healthy eaters and regular exercises.And you know what?It all comes down to wether I make the ritght choices(food).I have been well educated on food that are good and bad by my parents.They dont tell me dont eat chocolate, they say its your choice.Do you really want to eat that?I think about it.It really makes you think.So anyway to all those kids out there.Make the right choice.
ReplyPeace
In my year there is maybe 1 in 40, possibly even 50 kids that are overweight. I feel that although obesity can be a problem for many kids, it is not always the fault of the mother or her work. It is up to the kid to make sure that when in the canteen not to eat just burgers and cookies! At my school there are healthy options (I luurve the chicken wrap!) which can be used. If the kid eats takeaways every night then they are obviously not going to be as healthy. I try my best to get my fruit and veg and to go for walks. As long as kids know what they have to do they will do it. This really only applies to teenagers as I can barely remember being a child.
ReplyIM 14 NEARLY 15 IN OCTOBER AND I THINK IM OVERWEIGHT, I STARTRED 2 NOT EAT JUNK FOOD, SWEETS CRIPS ECT. AND I STIL WANT TO NO THE AVERAGE WEIGHT FOR A TEENAGER IM ABOUT 5'6 OR CLOSE TO THAT PLEASE HELP X
ReplyMy daughter is 15 and blames her self consiousness about being over weight to me...why me because i am the mother of cause...a daughter can definetly relate to her mother more so than her father as her mother has been there...gone threw puberty with all the experiences girls go threw during that process. i was an overweight teenager and struggled but as i grew older i grew out of it and became who i am today. My daughter blames me as she says i gave her the teenage body she has and she hates it. I have written out a diet plann for my daughter keeping in mind that she should be eating a variety as she is a teenager goin threw puberty...the weight hasnt come off and he hates the diet because she says it isnt working fast enough....If she wants to lose this wieght she better stick to the gym.
Replyfat people smell... bad
ReplyGeeez, John, I smell too after running 42 miles.
ReplyI actually do sweat, yes, yes, yes. (despite being a woman)
Shame on me.
I mean 42 km.(I STILL sweat, though) hehe.
Replyi am fat
Replyfat ppl r like mopeds, fun to ride but you dont want ur friends to ride.
ReplyWell my mum doesnt work at all its mainly all about her lover, which causes depression for me and ofcourse obeasity
Replyfk, can you talk to somebody, like a counselor at school? It might make you feel better.
Replyi no not all mothers are to blame,but a lot are.there are so many lazy parents out there with overweight kids because they cant be botherd to be healthy there selfs.i think its sick and the parents should get into some sort of trouble if thery wont help them.they are killing there own kids.i no it can be expensive to eat heathly but the goverment should help pay or give healthy food vouchers to the people who realy need them
ReplyITS OKAY TO EAT SUM FAST FOODS JUST LAY OFF A LITTLE YOU DONT HAVE TO GET SUCH A BIG PORTION OF IT BUT U COULD STILL EAT IT
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