Why Are Kids Fat? Researchers Find Answers
Lots of Unhealthy Pressures Go into the Mix
In a recent press release, researchers shed light on their findings. Many universities across the country, including the University of Michigan, University of Chicago at Illinois, participated in this research. They found that kids are bombarded with messages promoting unhealthy lifestyles, which contribute to fat kids.
Money
Low-income neighborhoods have more fast food, and higher calorie foods, than wealthy neighborhoods. This contributes to fat kids.
Low-income neighborhoods have more convenience stores and fewer grocery stores. This contributes to fat kids.
TV
TV ads target kids, steering them toward junk foods, high in calories and lacking nutritional benefits. Minority kids watch more TV, so they're more susceptible to commercials driving their desires for junk food. This contributes to fat kids.
Schools
The vast majority of both middle and high schools in America have contracts with soft drink companies. While these contracts bring in money for the school districts, in exchange, the contracts give students access to sugary beverages all day! This contributes to fat kids.
How much money do these contracts bring to schools across America? What is the price on each childs head? Researchers determined that the average high school gets an additional $6.48 per student. The average middle school gets $0.70 per student from soft drink contracts. This contributes to fat kids.
Students are pressed for money. Many have cut gym classes. Kids spend less time in gym than ever before. While in middle school, students average 172 minutes per week in gym, or PE, classes. That drops to a whopping 89 minutes a week on average for 12th graders. This contributes to fat kids.
Community
Poorer schools and independent athletic programs often don't have money to fund athletic programs. Poor families are hard pressed to afford the fees, transportation costs, equipment costs for many after school sporting activities. This contributes to fat kids.
Researchers also found that kids are fat because:
* Children in school have access to high-fat, high- sugar and salty foods through vending machines and snack carts in schools
* Racial and ethnic minorities have less access to healthier foods, such as low-fat snacks.
* Students of low socioeconomic status have less access to healthy snacks at school than do students with higher socioeconomic status.
* On average, Hispanic high school students are exposed to brand name fast-food items at lunchtime twice as often as African-American and white students.
Why are kids fat? The research seems to back common-sense thinking. Kids don't get enough activity, are more sedentary than in the past, and eating healthy is expensive. School budgets are tight, and many have been forced to reduce physical education. TV targets kids with commercials for high fat, sugary, taste-good products.
"Research is showing us that we have in our schools and communities a perfect storm that will continue to feed the childhood obesity epidemic until we adopt policies that improve the health of our communities and our kids," said Frank Chaloupka, head of the University of Illinois at Chicago research team.
Source:
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/533694/
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22 Comments
Post a Commenti totally agree, but they forgot to mention the fact that schools dont always give the older kids resses and, or p.e. so that is just another reason there are much more
Great article. Of course, most (if not all) of this falls on the parents. I make it a point to work out and to take my daughter for walks and let her play outside (even though we live in an urban area). Parents need to pay attention to their kids. Take them to the park, get a game of bball going, etc.
Accualy Chips Relucio dont blame it on the parents blame it on your self because your chooseing to make the choic of eating the Fast foods. And you can resist the urg of wanting the food. But you should work out daily and chose healthy foods!!!!!!!!!
Alot of the foods fed to children are full of HFCS (high fructose corn syrup). ALso, kids spend too much time "plugged in". That's my theory anyway. where I live 1 in 5 children (or more) I see are overweight. it's an epidemic!
great article! i definitely agree with susan as well as many others. The hectic lifestyle we've adapted to has led to the increase in weight gain because we are no longer taking the time to prepare healthy meals. It is up to us parents to keep our kids healthy!
The reason I think kids are fat today, because we as parents are fat. Our daily routines are "on the go" - we get up, rush to get ready, grab anything to eat, and get on the go. Kids don't have time for anything and if we parents would plan out our days to have good healthy foods at our reach, ahead of time, we would not have to worry about gaining weight because we would be putting in good food from the beginning of our day. Plus, our busy "on the go" lifestyles would work with us to keep our heart rate up which results in a better body and greater health.
I agree totally!
in outdoor activity time is due to the increase in two-income families. Both parents have to work because of the financial demands of having a home and family, which translates into more time the kids have to spend in daycares or home alone.
The best answer is simply for parents to be involved in their child's learning, and life in general. Teach these kids about healthier choices than what is shoved at them on a daily basis and marketed towards them from a very young age.
I agree with Kristina. When I was growing up, our family considered McDonalds a treat and it only happened once in a while.
As for the vending machines, the school districts have the option of loading them with healthier options like juices and trail mix. So what if it's not candy bars and Coke? If the kids are hungry enough for a snack, then they'll eat what's in the machine.
I also agree with Angela. Kids do not spend enough time just playing. When I was growing up, it was an entirely different world. We would leave the house at 10 in the morning and not show back up until 9 or 10 at night. This was at around the time I was 8 & 9 years old. We would go to the park with our friends and ride our bikes on the city bike trails and run from yard to yard having whatever adventures our imaginations could create. These days, if a child is gone for 12 hours, the parents should be completely freaked out and call the cops! (I'm only half kidding here.)
I think some of the redu
Interesting Article Thanks! Plain & Simple Parents have the bidggest & most profound influence on their kids, especially when they are young. If parents model good, healthy eating habits the kids will usually follow, regardless of pressure when they get older. The problem is most household have 2 working parents nowadays, and most parents give into the fast food pick-up on the way home from work. And yes, financially well off families are the ones that can afford that $20.00 stop at Kentucky Fried Chicken. So, untill Mom can stay home, and have the time to prepare a really healthy meal, I guess the kids are going to lose out. I compromised when my son was growing up. I worked 6 hours a days when he was in school, and Always had a very healthy meal on the table. Most families will not give up the 3rd VCR or satellite TV, so both parents will continue to work, and serve unhealthy fast food.