[#1]

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to bring to your attention an article published today on the Community channel, it touches on some really interesting and controversial topics such as childhood obesity and the lack of opportunity for low income children. 

What are your thoughts?

Stef x

[#2]

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to bring to your attention an article published today on the Community channel, it touches on some really interesting and controversial topics such as childhood obesity and the lack of opportunity for low income children. 

What are your thoughts?

Stef x

[#3]

Hi Stef,

I could be wrong on this but I think when children at school are measured, their height isn't always taken into consideration and quite a few children have had letters home to say their child is over weight when in fact they are tall for their age and their weight is healthy for their height. So although I don't doubt obesity is a problem in children I do doubt the figures.

I think education and laziness are the two main reasons for childhood obesity. Education, because some parents are not aware that the way they are feeding their kids is bad for their health. I had a friend whose daughter was very obviously overweight and her mum just didn't see it despite her struggling to find clothes to fit her. She thought because her daughter ate plenty of fruit and veg she had a healthy diet. She didn't think about all the junk she ate inbetween meals and that having her brothers leftovers was a bad thing. People also think eating healthy means expensive when it doesn't have to. 

I say laziness because some people just can't be bothered and go for the easy option when cooking and give in to sweets etc because it's easier.

So I don't think the government can be blamed for the obesity problems but they could be doing more to help regarding educating about healthy eating. 

While I do think there is a lot of opportunity for familes that are well off and I mean very well off I do think low income families get help too. One thing that is a bug bare of mine at the moment is that families on income support (I think that is the criteria needed to qualify)are being offered free nursery places for children aged 2+ while other families don't get free places until the term after their child reaches 3. I'm not saying freee places for aged 2+ should be offered to all. I think it's wrong that they should be offered from 2+. It's a huge financial commintment I don't think the government should be offering. Children at 2 don't need a nursery place when their parents are at hime. If this money was going spare (not that there's such a thinkg as spare money!) then surely the right thing would be to help those who are working or wanting to work. CHildcare costs are through the roof and a reason a lot of parents can't afford to work. I think the government should be helping those who want to help themselves.

[#4]

Thank you for sharing you opinion sparkling-sunshine

I hope more people will let us know what they think!

And by the way, I completely agree with you that the public should be educated about healthy eating. I am always shocked when I see parents feeding their babies/toddlers fast food and crisps!! It just makes me so angry because their children are doomed to become obese!

Stef x

[#5]

Hello

I think a major part of the problem with healthy eating programs and the targeting of lower income, less educated families is the overall feeling of victimisation. It can't be a good feeling to think that people and the government believe they are 'failing' their children as a result of their dietary choice. We should also keep in mind that in many instances healthy eating might not be practical for people, purely because of the time frame and how busy they are. This is not taking into account the cost of fruit and vegetables, which I believe is a major factor.  

It's also important to remember that fast-food now and then isn't a bad thing, it won't lead to obesity. As long as their diet is generally healthy and they get plenty of exercise, the occasional treat isn't a problem. The issue I've noticed is that a lot of children are not exercising anywhere near enough, usually they're also the ones who also don't eat healthy either. This is the cause of the obesity problem the country faces. 

I could expand a lot if people want, but I decided to just compact it. 

[#6]

Hi Sleepz,

Nice to see you on the board again.

I disagree with you about people not having the time to healthy eat. A healthy meal doesn't have to take longer to cook than an unhealthy one. I agree fruit and veg are expensive but then all food is compared to what it used to be. I don't know about other areas but here the average kebab costs around £4.50. For £4.50 you could buy 4 large potatoes suitable for jacket potaoes from our local market for £1 and with the remaining £3.50 you could buy a healthy filling such as tuna and some mayo, or a packet of reduced fat cheese. This could a family of 4 for lunch compared with the kebab that would only feed one person and isn't healthy. I think people use cost as an excuse to not healthy eat. 

[#7]

Hello Sunshine, it is nice to pop back in here J

Time is an interesting area, in most cases you are correct that there is enough time to cook a healthy meal. The energy of the parent plays a large part, if they've been working all day they might take the easy way out of fast-food or easy to cook meals instead of preparing a healthy meal. I would argue that a good healthy meal takes much more interaction to prepare than an unhealthy one; implying the main problem, laziness. 

Unhealthy options aren't just what you buy in the takeaway it's what you buy in the supermarket too, pizza, fried chicken etc. which are a similar cost to what you described being a healthy option. The issue here is that children are powerful little things that are masters in getting what they want. Many children seem to prefer the unhealthy options when presented with them, apple vs crisps for instance. I know a lot of parents who will fold in the supermarket and buy the unhealthy options to save an argument with their child. 

I think your point on people using cost as an excuse is very likely to be the case, considering you described a very nice meal that is very cheap to produce, while also being healthy. The government helping by providing menus showing simple, quick to prepare healthy meals that won't cost much might be a way to tackle this problem proactively, without seeming demeaning to parents. 

[#8]

I think Jamie Oliver made an effort to show low income families how to cook healthy at a reasonable cost on a reality tv type programme based in Rotherham.

I get where you are coming from with the time thing but a jacket potato, fresh fish and veg can all be cooked in the microwave in minutes. A cheap cut of meat and veg can be chucked in the slow cooker in the morning and produce a healthy meal at the end of the day.

Giving in to kids demands is taking the easy option. I'm not saying I never do because I like the quiet life too but again I think laziness plays a part. If kids are taught good habits from the start they'll enjoy fruit as a treat as well as sweets and crisps. Fruits like bananas and grapes have plenty of natural sugar in them that my kids love.

I think the government could be helping but are we just being too quick to blame someone else for the obesity problem and not taking responsibility ourselves?