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

[TimeforMe]

Wouldn't these people have to be at least diagnosed with something in order to get one? Unless they're just out buying them, then that's a problem.

They're renting them at WDW. Anyone can do it--no medical proof required.

 

[sha_lyn]

Did you ever consider that the reason the people on the ECV's are over weight is because they have mobility issues? No of course not. You just assume that they are just fat and lazy.

 

[TimeforMe]

It's scary. That's a hard life for kids.

Hi Dana
Yes, that's the point. Just look at how much they miss out on! Not being able to participate in team sports--heck just not even being able to move around freely. And the social aspects of it.....I won't even get into.

 

[nightowlky]

Television, the drug of a nation
Breeding ignorance and feeding radiation


Many people are lazy. There's not an epidemic of "thyroid problems". There's an epidemic of laziness with television, fast food, and pizza delivery at the heart of it.

 

[TimeforMe]

Did you ever consider that the reason the people on the ECV's are over weight is because they have mobility issues? No of course not. You just assume that they are just fat and lazy.

OK my turn to . Did you read my post at all? Did you ever think that maybe they have mobility issues because they're fat and lazy?

 

[Cool-Beans]

Okay, I will take a chance and respond. DH and I have sat many times on Main Street at magic Kingdom waiting for Spectromagic to start. We have had this conversation many, many times and its a real head-scratcher. Why are those obese kids in the strollers and why are those fat hineys in the ECVs? WHY! Get out of those and start walking!!!!!! It will do you good!

It is possible that those "fat hineys" are in wheelchairs because they have a medical condition that prevents them from being able to get around. That same condition prevents exercise. Spinal stenosis leaps to mind, but there are many.

I bet they would LOVE to "get out of those and start walking."

 

[RNMOM]

Well, where do I begin? My kids were always outside and playing. They are adults now and a little overweight but not due to me...they eat out way too much even though a meal is always ready for them at home. I spend about 1/3 of my grocery money in the produce department. We are stuffing ourselves on our homegrown tomatoes right now as many easterners are. Can I get them to eat the best foods for them, no.

My boys ate well at home but when the cafeteria has a lot of junk food, I can not control what they buy. The schools do not want parents babysitting their own kids but it is okay for them to have some contract with the soda companies from which they get kickbacks. We had healthy meals when I was in school and we had PE all the way through school. At recess we played jump rope and dodge ball and there were teachers out on the school yard watching so it didn't get dangerous. Not now, there was only the sectretary and the principle in the building during lunch period when my kids were in elementary school. I expressed dismay at that and was told to take it up with the teachers' union.

Now I use an ECV. I have made 7 trips to WDW and the last 3 on a scooter. I have arthritis in both knees and need totals. I now have rheumatoid arthritis in my hands. Oh yeah, my ankle and my back are also affected. I am allergic to the sun and to sunblocks. Frankly I don't care if you like to see my fat a$$ on a scooter or not, I pay my ticket price and for my hotel just as you do. What do you want? Us fat people to stay home so you don't have to look at us and hence get bigger? I refuse to let your opinion keep me locked in my home. I will go where I want and when I want and I have a right to take up as much space as I need. Not all thin people are perfect either. By the way, my DH and boys love me just as I am.

Now, I need to go do my laundry and finish making salad for my DH's lunch.

 

[JimFitz]

I agree with the OP 100%. The majority of large people in ECV's are there because of a lazy lifestyle. I am sure that most of them need them because now they have no other choice. Their habits have put them in this situation. I have an Aunt who lived her life eating and sitting on the couch and now she is wheelchair bound.........it's sad.

Oh, and BTW...I am no Tony Atlas, and I understand the addiction to food, but some people go to an extreme with the laziness.....

 

[TimeforMe]

No, I use an ECV. I have made 7 trips to WDW and the last 3 on a scooter. I have arthritis in both knees and need totals. I now have rheumatoid arthritis in my hands. Oh yeah, my ankle and my back are also affected. I am allergic to the sun and to sunblocks. Frankly I don't care if you like to see my fat a$$ on a scooter or not, I pay my ticket price and for my hotel just as you do. What do you want? Us fat people to stay home so you don't have to look at us and hence get bigger? I refuse to let your opinion keep me locked in my home. I will go where I want and when I want and I have a right to take up as much space as I need. Not all thin people are perfect either. By the way, my DH and boys love me just as I am.

Now, I need to go do my laundry and finish making salad for my DH's lunch.

Wow. OK.

That's totally NOT what I'm saying though.

 

[HappyLawyer]

Those of you expecting me to debate or flame, relax on this one, i am not going to defend anyone here but i will say this, i grew up a big girl, i was a big kid and a pooh sized woman. We live in a judgemental society and the truth is, larger people are not as accepted as smaller people. I had a grandmother who just fed you, and at times depression some people don't eat some eat, ( i'm an eater) with that said, if there is nothing else i do in life i will prevent my child from being obese. The number one reason is because it is healthier for her. I keep her active, now she used to be a chubby girl but with basketball, softball, karate, ice skating and other stuff she has thinned out to a great 92 pounds, she is 10 years old and 5'1

 

[teacherforhi]

Yep, I'm fat and lazy.

I tripped over a chair in my classroom last year and ended up having my knee REPLACED. Even though I'm okay now, I gained a lot of weight in the time that I couldn't exercise and it really becomes a cycle.

It's harder to exercise now because of my weight and because of my weight it's harder to exercise.

But, of course, you can just look at me and tell I'm fat and lazy. After all, you've been granted the all-seeing eye.

These kinds of posts get on my nerves and I typically don't respond, but I have to go back to work tomorrow (Where did summer go?) and I'm cranky. Yes, there's an obesity problem in America today, but you really need to get off your high horse before you start passing judgment on every person you see using an ECV. Yes, many of them are obese (See? I agree.). However, having mobility problems can lead to obesity problems. From October of last year till about March, I had difficulty getting up and going to the bathroom even. I certainly wasn't getting out and walking. Luckily, my problem was correctable and hopefully, I'll be able to lose the weight I gained. However, there are many people who can't just get a new joint.

 

[kejoda]

oh yeah, this one's gonna be good!
Hi Charade

oh look Uncle Remus more time together!!!

 

[tiggersmom2]

I'm sure I am in the minority but here is my take. I don't care WHO is in an ECV or WHY they are using one. I take care of my family's needs and don't feel the need to sit back and judge other people at WDW.....yes, I am serious.

I make sure my kids are healthy and don't worry about anyone else's kids. When at WDW, I am all about making my vacation as enjoyable as possible and hope others are having a great time too. I am more concerned with the irritating family that broke in line at the POTC after all of us other people had waited for over an hour than the "fat" people.

If you think obesity is such a problem, all you can do is make sure YOUR kids are living a healthy life style, don't worry about others.

 

[goofy's friends]

So many schools are contributing to the issue as well by getting rid of PE, competitive sports, putting vending machines in the schools, not serving wholesome meals, etc. I was thankful when our elementary school made PE an every other day event for all the kids. It is a start in developing healthy habits.

 

[TimeforMe]

I make sure my kids are healthy and don't worry about anyone else's kids. When at WDW, I am all about making my vacation as enjoyable as possible and hope others are having a great time too. I am more concerned with the irritating family that broke in line at the POTC after all of us other people had waited for over an hour than the "fat" people.

Ahhh, but I do worry about the future of America. I get irritated too when people cut in line, but who knows why they're doing it? Maybe someone was holding their spot, maybe they had to go to the bathroom really bad.

To carry it one step further....people that don't truly need ECVs (and I'm not talking about those that legitimately need them--can you concede at least that not everyone NEEDS them) annoy me by almost running me over.

If that's judging, then call me Judy. Remember, it takes a village.

 

[schlepsnort]

I happened upon an interesting article today and when I find it again I'll provide the magazine title but the gist of it was related to weight issues when dealing with arthritis.

This may also pertain to some (not all) of the people you will see using an ECV.

Living with Arthritis means living with daily pain, daily pain which leads to fatigue. Now the best way to deal with arthritis is to try and maintain an active lifestyle. However this is where a nasty cycle begins.

You are overweight due to medications/inability to move but really want to try and lose the weight. So you begin exercising.
Well the repetitive motion and weight bearing exercises causes the joints in your feet to react painfully.
Your feet hurt, so you have to stop before you cause joint damage. Joint damage which can lead to surgeries and further complications.
You stop moving, you gain back what you've lost and maybe more. So you are still overweight and in pain and now throw depression on top of it.

So before you label people you see using an ECV as automatically lazy...think about it first. Maybe they are overindulgent on the Ben and Jerry's or maybe they are fighting with a myriad of other problems that contribute to their weight that until further research can be done there isn't a whole heck of a lot they can do about it. It's not just thryoid problems, it's not just arthritis, it is many many many things out there in the world. Laziness is only ONE and it's not always the primary factor.

 

[teacherforhi]

To carry it one step further....people that don't truly need ECVs (and I'm not talking about those that legitimately need them--can you concede at least that not everyone NEEDS them) annoy me by almost running me over.

So it's okay for people that truly need them to run you over?

Honestly, that's a whole different issue. If you're going to use one at WDW, rent one at home and practice first. Everyone will be happier.

 

[RNMOM]

Just wanted to add, I have worked 30 years as a nurse. Most in surgery and recovery room where I stood for up to 12 hours /day. I quit working this January and don't know if I can go back due to the rapid increase in my arthritis. So, not all of us get fat and lazy sitting on a couch. Many of us run around doing all that everyone else does.

 

[Cool-Beans]

I think that, with a thread made up of people picking on those in wheelchairs, that the DIS has stooped to a new low.

It never, in my wildest dreams, occurred to me that when some folks saw a person in a wheelchair (or ECV) that they thought, "Get up and walk, you lazy bum."

I didn't think I COULD feel worse for those folks than I did. And now I do.

 

[JimFitz]

Its the food we eat as well. Just because someone is not mobile does not mean they will balloon up to 350LBS. I work with a few wheelchair bound people and they are not heavy at all.

Its the food we choose to eat.