What are "we" doing to our children in America?

[VSL]

I believe that there are people who can't help but be overweight and they need extra help. However, by and large, I believe that most overweight people are so due to lack of exercise and eating the wrong foods and too much of that same food. I'm a bit overweight and I take full responsibility. I know that if I ate a certain way and got up and MOVED, then the weight would come off.

The question is why I don't get rid of the weight. And why are there so many people like me who also don't do what it takes. I don't know the answer to that.

Great post - ITA. And the question at the end is an important one - I mean, why don't more of us do something about it I don't know.

I will concede though that while for the vast majority of people it is simply about eating less and moving more, we are not all the same (this is not taking into account the very small percentage of people who really do have medical conditions which make it very difficult for them to lose weight). Unfair as it sounds, some people will have to eat even less and move even more than the average person to get where they want, while others can get away with eating a bit more and exercising a bit less. But that doesn't mean that the person who has to do more work will never get there. It just means that they have to do more work.

And I think it's mostly about choices. You can choose to do the work (however much that may be) or you can choose not to.

Unfairly, I think society makes it a lot easier for us to reach levels of overweight and obesity that were rare in the past. We see various healthy eating programs as diets to help us lose the weight but then 'go off' when we get there. That's not how it should be. Eating healthy is seen as 'boring'. People see you as 'boring' if you don't have dessert when eating out with them in a restaurant.

Have you ever noticed how when there is a group of you in a restaurant and just one person wants dessert they will try to 'sell' the dessert to you, so that you'll have one too? What's all that about? I truly believe that it's because they'd feel a bit silly being the only person to have dessert. Would they do the same thing if they wanted a piece of fruit?

We think of eating healthy as being 'torture' (that's how the media portray it), and that we're somehow missing out if we eating better - but missing out on what? The taste of food that lasts for all of a few seconds? How many of us who are or have been overweight/unfit miss out on things (things like swimming, playing with children, and in some cases, going on rides) because of lack of fitness?

There's also vanity sizing, which does not help. It just makes us think that we are at a healthy size/weight, when really the manufacturer has just made all the sizes bigger! People talk about how Marilyn Monroe was a UK 16 (a US 12)... she may have been, but she had a 24" waist and about 36" hips - sizes have grown. Some people talk about how the average size right now is a UK 16 (US 12), but that doesn't mean it's healthy - but calling it 'average' I think gives the impression that it is healthy!

I think I'm just rambling now, but Western society really is quite strange.

FTR, I'm just commenting on the situation - I'm to busy worrying about my own body to notice anyone elses when I'm out. You'd have to be pretty extreme to catch my attention.

But isn't that another thing? We're so used to seeing people who are overweight that for many of us to even notice anymore, it has to be someone who is extremely out of shape for us to pay attention.

 

[JimFitz]

I wanted to post a follow up.

I am not at my ideal weight. I could shed a few pounds to get to my ideal weight.

Also, I am not blaming or judging people for being fat. Issues with weight can rip a person apart.

I believe that we eat too much processed food. We eat chemicals and not food. Food is a socially acceptable drug that a majority of Americans are addicted to. I for one have eaten a pint of Hagen Daz when I have had a crappy week.

I think this is a matter of people medicating their feelings. I have medicated with Alcohol and kicked that habit about 11 years ago. I could easily see myself medicating with food if I did not keep it in check. It's a battle, but it's my health.

 

[nuke]

I will be brave and say that I am overweight and there is no medical reason for it. It might be genetics because I have the same shape as every female in my family. However all the males are normal weight.
I'll also fully admit that between working 40 hours, carting the kid all over the place, cleaning the house and commuting, I just don't feel like exercising.
Am I happy this way, HELL No! And I probably commit to myself weekly that I'm going to start a diet. I just never make it past Monday. I also fully admit that it is MY fault and noone elses.

However, I decided when I had my son that I would not make issues out of food. I never told him to clean his plate. I never forced him to eat something he didn't want to and I never used food as an award. He is SKINNY now as an 8 year old. He is also in constant motion. Even playing video games he is all over the place. He also doesn't eat much candy or sweets. If he wants a cookie, he wants A cookie. He is the only person I know that eats one oreo and is happy.

My normal weight brother and skinny sister in law however constantly used food as a reward for their kids. Food is their life. Both kids are overweight and will eat constantly if given the chance. They are 13 and 11 and they will not leave them home alone because they will eat all the food in the fridge.

 

[sha_lyn]

People are waiting for their surgery because they don't stick to a healthy eating plan and do not exercise. It's not because all of a sudden the majority of the citizens in the United States started having a metabolism malfunction. People who have stretched their stomachs as they've eaten themselves to a grossly obese weight do not get filled by a 1/2 cup of pasta, a serving of vegetables, and 4 ounces of protein. So they overeat. And, once someone IS this big, they don't have enough energy to exercise.

It really is that simple.

I know several people who have had gastrci bypass, lapband etc. All went through genetic testing and all have many of the markers for obesity. So no it is not "really that simple".One person had I believe 27 out of 31 genetic markers.

 

[JimFitz]

I know several people who have had gastrci bypass, lapband etc. All went through genetic testing and all have many of the markers for obesity. So no it is not "really that simple".One person had I believe 27 out of 31 genetic markers.

Then why aren't people in other countries as fat as us??

 

[cheyita]

Some people talk about how the average size right now is a UK 16 (US 12), but that doesn't mean it's healthy - but calling it 'average' I think gives the impression that it is healthy!

Well, a size 12 isn't necessarily unhealthy either. I am a size 12, and while I'd love to lose another 10-15 pounds, I am currently in the healthy BMI range for my height. I might not be "thin", but I'm OK. Then again, I'm 5'9", which probably makes a difference.

 

[HappyLawyer]

You seem very intent on picking a fight with me...any particular reason why?

I do not fight, and if that is the mentality you have then i can do nothing for you, you made a post i commented, if you don't want to stand by and explin what you said and why you said it i cannot hold your hand,

 

[HappyLawyer]

I would have told him to go you-know-where, I was going to buy what I wanted.

Seriously, though, you would not have a problem with your kid buying all that food. I saw this tray, it had all this food on it and like 15-20 of the single stick twix candy bars... you don't see anything wrong with that?

 

[HappyLawyer]

There's pages and pages of back and forth between people talking about a very small percentage. We should be talking about the majority, and the majority of really big kids have parents that simply didn't do what it took to keep them from getting that way.

I can agree with this, as i said in an earlier post, when my dtr was 4 she was chunky, so i did not make her exercise to death, i put her in activities, fun stuff to keep her active, karate, basketball, softball, etc, things she likes to do. I am guily of not teaching her how to eat properly which i am going to work on, but think about it, children need us because they cannot make decisions for themselves. It is our jobs as parents to take care of them and do things in their best benefit, there can be large framed children whom are healthy, but parents that see their children are extremely overweight and are not trying to help the child imporve their health, these parents need to step up

 

[Shutterbug]

Just saw this on the news this morning:


Ford Starts Manufacturing Autos For Larger Drivers

Automaker Has Developed Larger Virtual Mannequins
The American Medical Association said one in three Americans is overweight; recently, an American automaker has started keeping that in mind.

Ford has developed nine virtual mannequins that are larger, so engineers can ergonomically allow for a bigger belly and wider hips, NewsChannel5 reported.

Engineers said that if Americans do not change, then the world must change for them.

In some of its 2007 model year vehicles, Ford will roll out its more-accommodating cars.

 

[sha_lyn]

Then why aren't people in other countries as fat as us??

Because they aren't "breeding" with the same gene pool.

 

[JimFitz]

Because they aren't "breeding" with the same gene pool.

That's not an excuse. As westernized food moves east, countries are becoming fatter and fatter. It's what we eat.

 

[VSL]

Well, a size 12 isn't necessarily unhealthy either. I am a size 12, and while I'd love to lose another 10-15 pounds, I am currently in the healthy BMI range for my height. I might not be "thin", but I'm OK. Then again, I'm 5'9", which probably makes a difference.

Ah yes - the height thing! That would definitely make a difference!

 

[RNLUVSDISNEY]

Ok, so lots of people need ECV's. For whatever reason. Why don't they have to wait in line??? My mom actually considered using one this year so that we could all get out of lines. She has some arthritis, and yes is large, but not obese. She thought it might be easier to keep up if she had an ECV, but in all honesty really liked the idea of skipping lines. I don't care who uses and ECV, but they should have to wait like the rest of us. They can sit at the end and have a family member be in line or someth

 

[MushyMushy]

Ok, so lots of people need ECV's. For whatever reason. Why don't they have to wait in line??? My mom actually considered using one this year so that we could all get out of lines. She has some arthritis, and yes is large, but not obese. She thought it might be easier to keep up if she had an ECV, but in all honesty really liked the idea of skipping lines. I don't care who uses and ECV, but they should have to wait like the rest of us. They can sit at the end and have a family member be in line or someth

They do wait. I don't know where you got the idea that they don't have to wait, but they do. For the rides that have wide enough queue lines for the wheelchairs/ECVs, they wait in the regular line. For those that don't, they go through the exit and have to wait for just as long and sometimes longer to get on the ride.

For as much as the disabled are already inconvenienced in their lives, I would have no problem if they caught a break once in a while.

 

[goodeats]

One concern I have with the obesity epidemic is the way people are just accepting it. Schools won't confront kids about their girth because they don't want to offend the little darlings self-esteem. Various chair manufacturer's (from movie theaters to cars) are just increasing the size of the seats. Clothing manufacturer's are increasing the sizes of clothes.

Maybe we as a society shouldn't cater to this? Maybe if it was less easy to be obese, people would make more of an effort to lose the weight.

 

[FayeW]

I do not fight, and if that is the mentality you have then i can do nothing for you, you made a post i commented, if you don't want to stand by and explin what you said and why you said it i cannot hold your hand,

I DID explain what I based my opinion on. Everybody who reads this thread can clearly see that. You asked "if that's the best I could do".

I don't know who crapped in your cornflakes, but I am pretty sure it wasn't me.

You are deliberately insulting and baiting me, and in the process,you are making yourself look very foolish.

 

[MushyMushy]

One concern I have with the obesity epidemic is the way people are just accepting it. Schools won't confront kids about their girth because they don't want to offend the little darlings self-esteem. Various chair manufacturer's (from movie theaters to cars) are just increasing the size of the seats. Clothing manufacturer's are increasing the sizes of clothes.

Maybe we as a society shouldn't cater to this? Maybe if it was less easy to be obese, people would make more of an effort to lose the weight.

Sure. Why don't we quit making plus size clothes so all the fatties can go naked.

Nothing will please you will it?

 

[goofygirl]

Then why aren't people in other countries as fat as us??

Because Americans are more lazier, spoiled and gluttoness than anyone else.

 

[JimFitz]

Sure. Why don't we quit making plus size clothes so all the fatties can go naked.

Ewwwwww