SubscribeA Positive Solution to Childhood Obesity
In among all the alarmist reporting on rising obesity rates -- there is occasionally some constructive reporting.
Two techniques have assisted with childhood weight problems.
- The MEND programme (UK)
- Removing soft drinks, sweets, and buns from schools (Sweden)
MEND (Mind, Exercise, Nutrition, Do-it!) is a 9-week program that involves the whole family - teaching "healthy attitudes and behaviours relating to eating and activity, and to help children see being active as fun."
The program was tested across a number of areas across England:
After six months, children in the programme had a waist measurement which was, on average, just over 4cm smaller than those in the non-intervention group.The programme group also had a body mass index measure which was two points lower and did at least three more hours of physical activity per week.
Tests also showed their confidence increased by 10%. (from BBC)
Another test in Sweden in involved removing sugary foods from schools:
The number of overweight or obese six-to-10-year-olds dropped from 22 to 16 percent in the 10 Stockholm schools that participated in the study by banning sweets and introducing healthier lunches
This comes at a time when the US is looking at a similar junk food ban. However, it remains to be seen whether the complex set of suggested rules will be workable.
I think it would help battle child and teen obesity greatly by replacing the choices that are available in the vending machines and lunch lines.
Brian
ReplyStill, I am a strong believer that education is part of the equation. We have to educate our children on how to change their eating habits. We, as parents and caregivers have to be the decision makers at their early stages. Child obesity IS an epidemic.
TheMorbidMe
ReplyAmazing the difference made just by improving school lunches! I'd venture that the improvement goes beyond that one meal, affecting the child's food choices and perhaps their metabolism throughout the rest of the day.
ReplyIt's not the school's job to raise children. Childhood obesity happens because the parents let it happen. There's no other reason. Parents need to fix the problem because they're the only ones responsible for their children.
Parents fail their children for the same reasons dieters fail to lose weight: because they're looking for an easy solution. If it's not easy, they just fail instead of rising to the challenge and doing the right thing.
ReplyChildren reflect their parents. A large number of overweight children have overweight parents who have allowed their own negative habits to impact their childrens' lives.
These state programs are a wonderful step, but they treat a symptom, not the disease itself. Parents shouldn't be lulled into thinking that the school administrators can compensate for their failures at home.
ReplyThis sounds good to me. Education can make a huge difference in children.
ReplyIf it weren't for the government-- (mandatory PE classes & health classes) well, maybe I would have changed from my parent's habits anyways... but not when I was 14 and not for sure!
While it's easy - and perhaps correct - to blame the parents, doing so only demonizes the parents of obese kids. So, I think programs like these are great.
ReplyMaybe the kids will educate their parents.
ReplyIt is indeed easy and correct to blame parents. Doing so doesn't "demonize" the parents. It simply identifies who is responsible.
We can't point it out when parents fail their children?
I guess it's better to be polite and let parents continue to fail, digging their children into a huge hole at the beginning of their lives so they have to spend years working their way out of it as soon as they're old enough to take care of themselves.
Because the parents might feel bad if we say something.
ReplyBen,
I say that because such blame is often used as an inexcuse to do anything else.
Personal responsibility is a lovely thing, but sometimes people are, umm, people. So, having other solutions to help when parents fail is far better than just saying "those stupid parents!"
ReplyHere's an organization and individual who are trying to do something to help.
http://www.actionagainstobesity.com/
ReplyHoly sexism, batman.
ReplyUnfortunately, they have a link to the ADA instead of the Weston A. Price Foundation.
ReplyThose are great ideas, especially removing soft drinks, sweets and buns from school. Most kids are active and exercise is not really the main reason for most of them.
ReplyI guess I just don't understand how people never equated the skyrocketing childhood obesity rates with the availability of surgary pop and snacks in schools! This seems like a real "DUH" moment to me!
Way back in the dark ages when I was in school, we couldn't even chew gum in school let alone have access to pop or candy; we could not even bring them from home because they would be taken away.
I applaud these efforts but I think so much more needs to be done. Go back to real school lunches COOKED by real people and get rid of all vending machines PERIOD.
ReplyMy health is at risk! I weighed 115lb when I was 18 and now I weigh 12lb more. I'm gonna die, according to crazy MeMe Roth and the CSPI. Those 10-12lb are gonna lead me to an early grave...
Sorry Dr. J, I hated the site. Aside from the content, the woman is like an anti-fat Ann Coulter, she looks scary.
ReplyThat's OK Jan. I know she is a little over the top! I just try not to throw out the baby with the bath water as it's said. If she can get some movement in a positive direction with parents and schools then I think her exaggerations can be helpful. Thanks to everyone who took the time to look at it. It's a work in progress, I guess.
ReplyI liked the Two Angry Moms, and the thing about the shampoo ad that was anti-breastfeeding.
I'd like her to have a Wedding Tux challenge, saying men who gain any weight from their wedding day are committing "fraud". The fact she only cares about what *women* weigh is very mysogynistic. Besides, I thought a marriage involved "in sickness and in health", and not "as long as you weigh the exact same and measure the exact same or you are committing fraud". Silly me.
ReplyI like the idea of removing sweets from schools. Maybe they could also get rid of other junk foods. This should be a perfect time for them to introduce healthy foods.
Replyschool lunches already suck why you gonna tell people how to make us starve.... look if you aint fat it aint your problem... i you are fat dont try to act sexy its nasty.... if you wanna act sexy lose weight... but dont lose that boody i love a girl that got a boody.... lol... danger curve a head you know what im say'n....
ReplyI completed a nine-part series on childhood obesity and food marketing issues. It summarizes much of the 700-page Institute of Medicine's landmark report on the subject, with some realistic actionable items and links for parents in the last part. It does address food marketing in schools as well. You can find the series here:
Replyhttp://expatriateskitchen.blogspot.com/2007/04/childhood-nutrition-series-complete.html
Interesting read! I think the best way to start promoting healthy eating in children is removing sweets and sodas from schools! Five to ten (depending on if the children are eating both breakfast and lunch) are eaten at school every week. Children will hopefully pick up healthier eating habits this way for the rest of their lives, also! You can find some additional interesting reading over at the Dietary Supplement Information Bureau page on childhood obesity.
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