Solution to Child Obesity?

i think most people realize the extent of danger many kids in america are in these days. obesity plays a large part in many diseases, and there are a lot of reasons for kids being obese. i find it amusing all the money spent on gimmicks and such when many times, (with exception to cases where genetics makes normal wt nearly impossible), it boils down to eating nothing in excess and excerise.

so on that note, what does everyone think about trying to get americas youth interested in soccer? i cannot think of a more active, vigerous sport that can be played cheaply and easily. im no soccer fan (tho ive watched the world cup) but i have played in my youth and IM teams and the workout is unbelievable!

something say, STRONGLY encouraging kids ages 5-13 to play in some soccer league EVERY yr. some may even grow to like it and stay with the sport. get kids out from in front of the computer and tv and running and just maybe....HAVING FUN!

even something as simple as implimenting soccer once or twice a week into primary and middle school PE classes. split the classes up into 4 teams and have some games. twice a week would go a long way for a large number of kids, esp since some get almost no excercise as is.

thoughts? comments?

[imported_elp6n]

I agree with you, and I'd like to add a few things.

1) Take away the sodas. Growing children need zero soda. None. Zilch. I've see 2 year olds asking for COKE!! (We didn't have any soda growing up and I wasn't overweight growing up either).

There are 7 teaspoons of sugar in one serving of a carbonated soda One serving of soda a day for 1 month totals 13 cups of sugar.

Did anyone read the Bristol paper regarding childhood diabetes? More and more kids are being diagnosed with Type II (used to be known as adult-onset diabetes).

2) Parents: McDonalds is not meant to be a regular source of food for your kids. There is no nutrition there. If you dont have time to cook a full meal dont feed your 9 year old a 10 piece chicken mcnugget meal instead. Once a month may be ok. Once a week is pushing it. Twice a week is just wrong.

3) The television is not your babysitter.

4) DO things with your kids. Set an example.

[imported_VTgal]

Soccer...basketball....football...playing tag (tag was the greatest thing ever when I was little)....taking a walk....baseball/softball....volleyball....any kind of physical activity would be beneficial.

Kids don't play outside anymore either. [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

Last night I was running though, and saw 3 little boys riding their bikes at the school. I was glad to see it.

[R0cketer]

I did grow up with a soda in my hand and a candy bar in the other but never was obese. Why? Because I also was always doing something, running, playing, walking, climbing, etc. That's the biggest key. Too many will sit and play their games, or be on this computer and never venture outside. Don't get me wrong, I love being geeky and playing games and such, but that was in addition to wanting to be out playing basketball or baseball or nearly anything. Most of the time, I'd finish and have a nice soda or 2, but the content wasn't doom because there was lots of physical activity.

I mean we talk about the old generations, these were people who would put a gallon of lard in anything they fixed. Lord knows it wasn't healthy, there was no health plans or such, but they were so active that you didn't encounter it or that much, you had healthy people who probably put more fats in their body in one meal than some of the unhealthy do now in a week, but they also were busy from sun up to sun down.

[NotSoSilentBob]

Fishing and hunting.

Help your kid lose weight, buy them a gun and a fishing pole.

[timmy_v]

Well when i wasn younger all i did was sit on my butt and drink pop and play games. But when i was old enough i started playin little league and minor league sports. So just get kids involved in sports and they shoudl be fine.

[imported_VTgal]

I saw this tv show one day about 2 years ago about this 5 year old that weighed 150 or something. It was crazy. They set up cameras in the kitchen and he would get up in the middle of the night and use chairs and counter tops to climb and get stuff out to make food. Not just like a bowl of cereal either, more like a meal. So they ended up chaining the cabinets and frig at night and he freaked out when he woke up and found them that way. He tried for a good 30-45 minutes to get them open.

Really sad.

[timmy_v]

I saw like an episode of maury one day that had all kinds of kids like that on it. Yea it is pretty sad when kids are like that and the parents think that nothign are wrong with them tho.

[imported_elp6n]

A good show to watch: Honey We're Killing the Kids.

Admittedly though - the soda issue is a huge problem (esp. when combined with slothfulness). Many kids drink only soda. Soda for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. No milk. No juice. Great for diabetes, great for rotten teeth. If your child is having to have his baby teeth capped, or have tooth fillings when she/he is still in early elementary school - you've got a problem.

If the kids that guzzle sodas are exceptionally active, some may not gain weight as children. But you have to agree, it's a bad habit to get into. The sugar surges they get day in and day out will come back to haunt them as puberty hits, teenage years, college years. How many of us can maintain the activity levels we had when we were 8? I sure wish I had that kind of energy now.
It's just a bad habit to get into and it will come back to bite most kids in the @$$ as they age. They'll have to learn to kick the soda habit.

[imported_elp6n]

Many years ago I saw several talk show episodes with 100, 200 pound toddlers and kingergarten age children.

The moms said things like:
"Food is the only thing that keeps her from crying."
"She don't eat that much: she may get two peanut butter & mayonnaise sandwiches and a snack cake and a coke for her mid morning snack...." (the kid was 2)
"I can't afford that stuff" (when asked why a 4 year old wasn't just fed cereal for breakfast, instead of bacon eggs sausage pancakes & toast the kid got daily)

Stuff a sandwich in their mouths & pop them in front of the TV.