Did you notice Michelle Obama's initiative to fight childhood obesity in the USA today? She started a campaign called Let's Move. According to the Secretary of Health and Human Services on January 26, 2011, "Over the last 40 years, the share of American kids who are overweight has quadrupled."
What can we do as a community to change this?
Have healthier school food choices?
Make Physical Education a mandatory class?
Does this problem start in the home, community, or both?
Is there a simple answer?
Devastating to think that children will be put on cholesterol lowering drugs and even depression medication to treat the side effects of weight gain.
Can you imagine your child dealing with the emotional ridicule and health problems associated with obesity? Have you ever been overweight? Are you overweight? What can we do as a community to help?
I think childhood obesity starts in the home. Think about the video games, tv, and computers that children have access to now compared to 40 years ago. Instead of helping in the garden or cutting grass we are eating mindlessly in front of the tv. Also more moms are working now than ever before rather than being homemakers. That means more time on the run trying to get everything done and less time at home playing with the kids or making a home cooked meal. And because a double cheeseburger costs less than a bag of apples its easy to see how this situation is beginning to spiral out of control. I think the only thing to do at this point is educate, educate, educate and push for nutrition labels on all food-even in the restaurants.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Heather.
ReplyDeleteNow that my kids are both in the public school system I see it at school too - since when are "cheese sticks" a main course for an elementary child's lunch?? I let my kids pick one day a week to have hot lunch (they always pick Wednesdays - pizza day - duh) but the other days they get a well-balanced, home-made lunch prepared and lovingly packed by yours truly. If you can't count on the public schools to provide healthy food you KNOW you need to take charge of it yourself.
Its about taking responsibility and doing what we can as busy but loving moms.