cheesesteak
New member
Hi,
I'm just curious to hear what other people think about fast food and it's impact on childhood obesity.
I'm just curious to hear what other people think about fast food and it's impact on childhood obesity.
fast food's impact on childhood obesity
- Thread starter cheesesteak
- Start date
fast food is only one factor...
back when I was a kid, and the dinosaurs walked the earth, kids went out to play - we didn't have computers, or 256 channels on cable, or video games, or anything like that - getting stuck in the house meant you were in trouble for something and were being punished - you went out and played and played pretty hard too - we built forts, we played war, cowboys and indians, umpteen variations of tag... millions of miles on our bikes (10 speeds were for the rich kids, we had standard huffys) we were active...
Kids today are way less active... they have scheduled play dates and spend the rest of their time inside living a fairly sedentary life...
I don't think parents are any more involved then than they are in the crrent generation - both my parents worked fulltime jobs, it was my responsbility from age 7 or 8 to come home, do my homework, get dinner started at the appropriate time and then go play... and make sure my brother didn't get killed...
I think people have just gotten lazy and spend too much time protecting their children that they aren't letting children be children... Stranger danger existed when I was a tot - I have never forgotten the story of Betsy and Bill and the Nice Bad Man... times haven't changed all that much but the media makes people paranoid and overprotective.
back when I was a kid, and the dinosaurs walked the earth, kids went out to play - we didn't have computers, or 256 channels on cable, or video games, or anything like that - getting stuck in the house meant you were in trouble for something and were being punished - you went out and played and played pretty hard too - we built forts, we played war, cowboys and indians, umpteen variations of tag... millions of miles on our bikes (10 speeds were for the rich kids, we had standard huffys) we were active...
Kids today are way less active... they have scheduled play dates and spend the rest of their time inside living a fairly sedentary life...
I don't think parents are any more involved then than they are in the crrent generation - both my parents worked fulltime jobs, it was my responsbility from age 7 or 8 to come home, do my homework, get dinner started at the appropriate time and then go play... and make sure my brother didn't get killed...
I think people have just gotten lazy and spend too much time protecting their children that they aren't letting children be children... Stranger danger existed when I was a tot - I have never forgotten the story of Betsy and Bill and the Nice Bad Man... times haven't changed all that much but the media makes people paranoid and overprotective.
meonadiet
New member
And even if we were restricted in the house for whatever reason, we still built forts, played war and cowboys and indians driving mom nuts....
yarmiah
New member
I am in conplete agreement with Malificent.
Childhood obesity is a result of less activity and an unhealthy/high calorie diet.
When I was a kid I didn't get to pick what I wanted- if it was put on my plate, I was to eat it. Our once a week "treat" was on Friday's we either got pizza, or mcdonalds (I still remember Dad having a fit when we had to tell him it takes more then $5.00 to feed 3 kids lol). And like Malificent mentioned- 80% of my free time was spent outside.
Times were different when back then(I grew up in the 70's/80's). Mom was home most of the time- when she worked she worked when we were at school. We had set routines and responsibilites like, homework HAD to be done before we go out and play (yeah, we actually WANTED to get exercise), we had chores to do like make our beds, and help clean up dishes, we always at as a family at the table with no TV or other distractions. AS kids we were allowed ONE extracurricular actiity at one time(if you were on the volleyball team, you could not also sign up for dance, etc.)
Today's society is different. We all complain about not having time, yet we have more conveniences than ever! Generally speaking, most parents work the same amount of hours that our parents did, but we over book our free time trying to give our kids what we think is best for them- when what they really need is time with mom & dad- they need boundaries, they need rules.
Wow- a little off subject there LOL.
In conclusion, fast food certainly contributes- but who is introducing it to the kids and buying it for them? as a respsonsible adult and parent, I feel it is their duty to instill in kids a healthy variety of foods at a young age and not to use food as a reward.
Childhood obesity is a result of less activity and an unhealthy/high calorie diet.
When I was a kid I didn't get to pick what I wanted- if it was put on my plate, I was to eat it. Our once a week "treat" was on Friday's we either got pizza, or mcdonalds (I still remember Dad having a fit when we had to tell him it takes more then $5.00 to feed 3 kids lol). And like Malificent mentioned- 80% of my free time was spent outside.
Times were different when back then(I grew up in the 70's/80's). Mom was home most of the time- when she worked she worked when we were at school. We had set routines and responsibilites like, homework HAD to be done before we go out and play (yeah, we actually WANTED to get exercise), we had chores to do like make our beds, and help clean up dishes, we always at as a family at the table with no TV or other distractions. AS kids we were allowed ONE extracurricular actiity at one time(if you were on the volleyball team, you could not also sign up for dance, etc.)
Today's society is different. We all complain about not having time, yet we have more conveniences than ever! Generally speaking, most parents work the same amount of hours that our parents did, but we over book our free time trying to give our kids what we think is best for them- when what they really need is time with mom & dad- they need boundaries, they need rules.
Wow- a little off subject there LOL.
In conclusion, fast food certainly contributes- but who is introducing it to the kids and buying it for them? as a respsonsible adult and parent, I feel it is their duty to instill in kids a healthy variety of foods at a young age and not to use food as a reward.
I'm 18 now, so as little as 10-15 years ago I was doing the same stuff. We had a trampoline in our backyard that I loved to play on; we'd play with the neighborhood kids doing whatever -- bikes, tag, other games... In elementary school we played on the playgrounds during recess and we had to take PE up until 4th or 5th grade I think. We still had a TV at that time (standard cable programming) and a family computer which we had a few games for (such as Putt Putt Goes to the Moon). I think most kids are still pretty active. I think diet is a greater factor even now than the amount of play time kids get.
I think one thing to consider is the cost (both monetary and time) of fast food versus a "real" meal. A lot of the kids I see that are obese (I'm a nurse) come from lower income, single parent homes. Mom may not get home until 8 and then cooking isn't really a priority. It certainly doesn't make it right, but it is something to be considered when discussing this topic.
In addition, the school meals these kids get are atrocious. French fries are considered a vegetable and any meat is processed beyond recognition and then fried. I know my school lunches were a lot different.
The lack of activity is a huge factor in this equation
In addition, the school meals these kids get are atrocious. French fries are considered a vegetable and any meat is processed beyond recognition and then fried. I know my school lunches were a lot different.
The lack of activity is a huge factor in this equation
iamfire1
New member
When I get fast food for my kids....
Morning,
When I get fast food for my kids, I generally make sure they have an extra hour or so of activity to work it off. We might go on my beloved 2.4 mile circle walk, or do DDR, or walk to the bookstore, etc., but I always make certain to balance their food intake with future energy expended.
It's up to the parents to instill healthy eating habits, not the restaurants.
My input,
Barbara
Morning,
When I get fast food for my kids, I generally make sure they have an extra hour or so of activity to work it off. We might go on my beloved 2.4 mile circle walk, or do DDR, or walk to the bookstore, etc., but I always make certain to balance their food intake with future energy expended.
It's up to the parents to instill healthy eating habits, not the restaurants.
My input,
Barbara
tropicalgirl
New member
It's not a factor for us because we don't buy fast food for ds and don't plan on starting.