Where do parents fit in the childhood obesity puzzle?

Underage children depend solely on the parents for their nutritional needs. They also depend upon them as an example for physical activity. You cannot have obese parents and expect their children to be skinny. Perhaps it just comes down to something simple. Something as simple as "Do unto others what you would want done to you". You don't like being fat? Well neither will your children. Think McDonald's is bad for you but, You take your kids there because they beg you to? You wouldn't want to be fat, You wouldn't want to be unhealthy right? So change yourself first, The next generation will follow.

I am the mother of two grown daughters. I'm 5'4' and weigh 120 pounds. I've never had a weight problem. My husband has been overweight since the age of eight. His mother, sister, and almost all of his relatives on his mothers side of the family are heavy. I knew that our kids would have a genetic predispostion toward obesity. I vowed that I WOULD NOT have a fat child! I thought we'd escaped the bullet with our firstborn daughter. I breastfed her until she weaned at age 35 months. I delayed solid foods until well into the second half of her first year of life. I allowed no white flour products in my house, kept sugar to a minimum, and tried my best to feed my family a diet filled with nutitious, whole foods.

My daughter was a very healthy young child. At age four, she wore a preschooler's size slim pants. She continued to wear slim sizes through the second grade. When she entered the 3rd grade I noticed that she was starting to look a little rounder in the middle than before. I didn't worry too much at first. Then I noticed that her eating pattern was changing. She started eating a lot more and she was choosing different foods than when she was younger. She seemed drawn to anything that had a high fat content. I tried discussing healthy food choices with her and pointed out that eating things with too much fat was not healthy. I'm not talking about potato chips here. We didn't have those in the house. My daughter would snack on cheese or peanut butter or whole wheat bagels with my homemade butter/lecithin blend. Her snacking would take place when she got home from school in the afternoons and I was busy tutoring other kids in my office. My former skimpy eater was suddenly eating more than I did at dinner. My husband and I were both getting concerned about her weight gain and asked our (new) pediatrician about it. He told us in front of our daughter that he saw no problem with her weight and that she was well within the norm. What he did not seem to notice was that she had been at the 25th percentile for years and that in less than a year's time she'd moved up quite a few percentiles. (I don't remember how far.) Awareness of childhood obesity was not what it is today and because this doctor had only seen my child a couple of times, he didn't know how slender she used to be. He seemed to understand my husband's and my concern that our child was following the same growth pattern as my husband, but he thought our concern was misplaced. Unfortunately, just as my husband did after his 8th birthday, my firstborn continued to gain despite all of my efforts and went from wearing slim children's sizes to chubby sizes in less than one year. She continued to gain from age 8 on. In high school she weighed around 200 pounds and was 5'7" tall. After high school her weight problem got worse. She's now 29 and I would guess that she weighs over 250.

My second daughter, who is 24, is like me. She's never had a weight problem. Obviously, she grew up in the same house, with the same parents, being served the same meals, and having the same access to the refrigerator and the pantry as her older sister. Maybe it is my fault that my oldest is obese, but tell me, where did I go wrong?????

the skinny person standing in line to buy a pizza probably doesn't eat it very often. I rarely eat pizza and I am not fat. But sometimes one does need to indulge, just not EVERY DAY!

when i was a child I was overweight because of constant mental abuse by my mother. I was told I would never amount to anything, that i was stupid, unattractive, --the list goes on. Food was a comfort so i ate to cover up feelings of hate towards my mother. I still use food as a crutch and in times of strss my weight goes up. By the way-I still hate my mother.

Parents have all to do with their children's obesity, except in the cases of illness and disease. 1/3 of U.S. children are obese and now there is a new program for it? Does that mean the other 3/4ths are fine with weight? Too much time on the hands there? Run out of "Really" good causes involving children, eh?

I hear all the time how many people are going hungry in this country but every where you look, the most people I see are either over weight or real obese. I can't believe that parents are expected to raised their children and not think they are responsible for their weight. Weight watched today mean good health tomorrow in most case. Over weight and obese (about 30% of Americans) are subject to more health problems. When any one gets into trouble they blame their parents and the way they were raised, so take responsibility and raise them correctly, which includes eating healthy.

Every child and family is different, and placing blame for obesity isn't simple. But most obesity can be prevented. Most often, children are taught to overeat by parents who also overeat. Parents should be constantly thinking about this because our children's health depends on it. We all need to be careful to eat in a healthy way, which is difficult in a world of over-abundance and unhealthy foods. As adults, we might overeat for few weeks and gain a few pounds, and if we do nothing about it, we will keep that weight on and likely gain more. We must think of our health and try to lose the few pounds while it is only a few pounds. We need to think the same way with our children. If they are starting to become overweight we need to address it right away and do our very best to cut out the junk calories and give lower calorie meals for a while to balance things out. It isn't easy at all when kids beg for snacks from vending machines or for candy bars or chips or soda or things we know are bad for them. It is hard as a parent to say no, but we must consider our children's health as our first priority. All parents struggle with this.

I am a flight attendant and I watch eating habits-coast to coast- of Americans. Whenever I see a fat kid- I see a fat parent. I see a fat kid whine for a whole can of Dr. Pepper (we offer a 8oz cup) and the parent always gives in. Do they need that? No-but it would mean the parent has to exercise some self control for her and the kid. I and the other FA's just roll our eyes and know- here's another obese American in in the making. Pitiful. When I was a kid and I asked for more, my mother would say: "No..you've had enough." And the subject was closed and maybe that's why I've never had a weight problem in life.

I work as a waitress and its very sad to see parents order an adult portion for a child. I wonder if they don't know the harm they r doing to their kids.

Where do parents fit? What a stupid question. Parents are totally to blame if their kids are overweight. I'm sick of adults who who let their kids have anything they want, and then blame other's when the kid winds up fat and lazy and spoiled rotten. Grow up, man up and be a parent!

Parents are responsible for their childrens eating habits, they are responsible for their children sitting infront of vidoe games, computers and tv instead of playing kickball outside. When both our daughters where born our pedatrician gave us wonderful advice on how to feed our children from day one so that they would be healthy eaters, yes even love their vegetables. It worked. Our daughters make healthy food choices on their own, sure they like sweets and junk like every other kid, thats ok, they can have it because I know the rest of the time they eat the right foods. Our daughters also would choose playing outside instead of sitting around the house in front of the tv, video games or computer all day. Don't get me wrong they do watch tv, play video games, computer what kid does this is 2010 but the key is moderation. A lot of parents substitute food for love and attention thats a rip off and a cop out. No food can replace hugs and kiss from Mom and Dad, or Mom and Dad's undivided attention. Food is not a problem solver, a comforter, or a stress reliever, we as parents need to help our children understand that and do whatever it takes to ensure our children have happy healthy lives as adults.

Just wanted to add -- As parents, if you do everything you can, you can't blame yourselves for the choices your own children make.

Also, sometimes, children *do* have a predisposition to gaining weight. And a lot grow out of it, eventually. And some people are meant to weigh more. They will eventually grow up to be adults, so it's important you raise them to understand what healthy foods are, and that if they eat well and get plenty of exercise, then they will be healthy, and -weight- should be the very last concern. Being overweight is just a symptom -- it's NOT, by itself, a problem. Similarly, being underweight, in itself, it not a problem. Being healthy is what matters most.

To Dee,get over your hate for your mother and I think you will have better success with your weight problem.Hate is like acid,it will eventually destroy the container.Forgive her and keep your enemies close to you.

Kathy..As a mother of two grown daughters and two grown sons, my heart goes out to you. What a story!

Hello, everybody. I am sorry to tell this but I cannot keep silent. When I was a student I lived in USA for about 6 months, so I know exactly what you are talking about...
Since my very early childhood I was a pretty child with "weight problem", and all girls and boys were slim. My parents kept waiting when "our girl will grow up" it would disappear. Unfortunately it didn't disappear. According all world wide standards I am overweighted person. I wear M size in USA and 10-12 in UK. My mom always compared me with other girls and complained everybody of that I have weight problems. I was forbidden to wear short trouses or too tight clothing as it was "not beautiful". My doctor said that I am in excellent shape - I have no problems with doing stairs, any physical activity - I always dreamed to dance, but I was not that person that fits dancing class.
Listen up attentively: do not make your children to suffer because you listen other people's opinion. Have you ever thought how your kids would hate you for all your words in future? Whenever you touch this problem, they would start to eat more and more. Do love your kids, protect them from everybody - even from yourselves, as you are parents! You want your kids to be slimmer? Take them to the beach on weekends, play basketball and football together. If you do not have a time - buy them bycicle. Go to their schools and inspect what food they get in school. You don't have a time for food cooking -make a salad, teach your kids how to cook -99% of my US friends cannot cook. Why? What for? They can go to supermarket or to the McDonald's. I live in Asian country where everybody wears XS and I wear M. I feel myself dreadful and hate myself. Have you ever herad about anorexia? You want your teen age girl to suffer? Tell her that she is fat, undesirable child and that she must lose weight. If you love your child you will love him not for his appearance, for his success...
I am 24 and I still feel myself unsecure. By the way I can easily wear clothing that was bought when I was a teenager. My sizes didn't change. I have big problems in my social life as I think that nobody will never like me. I love my mom but I am still angry with her for her behaivour. I am successfull young woman with huge psycologic problems, I am graduating from the univercity and I have two higher educations, I entered into the top best school and unevercity students of my country to proof my parents that I am a good daughter. But still I do not wear short skirt - I think that everybody will laugh at me.
Sorry mom, if you would ever read it,
Ainur

Money and fast food has a lot to do with overweight folks, look back at your relatives during the depression, few were fat. Cultural back ground also has a lot to do with it. I once heard a Mother who was over weight tell her daughter, "eat it will make you feel better". Duh!

From everything I've seen and read, obesity is the result of a combination of things. My son's doctor said he's obese at 5 yrs old. He eats salads, drinks soy milk, and eats hardly any meat. I choose to examine what can be unhealthy in his healthy diet. Is it the salad dressing, or the amount of soy milk he drinks in a day? Maybe, it's the level of activity. Maybe, he shouldn't eat veggie chips and yogurt covered pretzels. It's a puzzel. He eats what I provide. Doctors should treat the whole person and not focus on just the diet.

If a skinny person is in line to get a pizza that's ok but if a fat person is in line to get a pizza then that's what makes them fat? If that was true then why isn't the skinny person fat? They're at the same pizza place ordering the same food. You can't say that all fat people are lazy, don't excercise, and over eat because you don't know that. That is a stereotype that skinny people make up. Some people are fat from over eating, but not all of them. When you run with your friends, play sports, excel in gym, eat the same school lunch that your peers eat, and still have people mooing behind your back then maybe you'll understand. Maybe some day you'll have a fat child, and then maybe after helping them struggle with diet and excercise they'll come home crying because people threw food at them, and then you'll understand that they don't need to be beautiful to be healthy. As long as you eat well and excersize that's all that matters, not what people look like. Some people are just fat and some are just skinny. I know because I am fat. All my life I've tried to run faster, eat healthier, and outsmart all those skinny kids that thought that they had some right to judge me by my cover. So far I've beaten the diabetes that runs in my family and I'm very happy with that. In the end I'm still just a smart funny fat woman with a loving fiance and a lot of friends. But the world is still making this out to be a popularity and beauty contest, when it shouldn't be. These are our bodies and everyone should keep their rights to be who they are, no matter what they look like. Parents fit into the obesity puzzle by being strong individuals that are there for their children when faced with a society that doesn't understand.

My gosh, obsessing over your childs weight makes everything worse! It brings the focus to food all the time, instead of focusing on healthy activities. Model good eating habits and behavior! Exercise with your kids, and in front of them. Keep yourself and them active.

I used to work in a BBQ restaurant, and could not believe the eating habits of overweight adults with children.."honey, dont have milk, have a soda". or "Im full, mom" "Oh, just try some cobbler!" Over the years I watched the regular customer's kids get fat right before my eyes!

Parenting is 90% of the problem, as kids lie in front of the computer and TV, little to no exercise, fast food, frozen foods (not veggies), take out, etc...no moderation or self-control, which is taught. Add to the mix toxic chemicals in the food and steroids....add advertising, marketing...JUNK FOOD!

This is a cultural problem as well. This entire culture has been brainwashed into thinking the powers that be, know what's best....as they rake in Billions at our expense!

I notice more and more people exhibit less and less control over their own lives and demand something different. Personally, I have never seen our culture so weakened by the systematic BS being literally fed to us?

Quick note: has anyone noticed the grocery store set up? Small segments of fresh veggies, meats cheese and fish, all while there are 5-6 (50' +) freezer compartments strategically placed in the store, overloaded with junk food, same with soda, canned veggies, boxed macaroni, beer, chips, etc...