Parents Blamed for Childhood Obesity - Love & Relationship Forums

DanielPete · #1 (**permalink**) 02-09-2009, 12:42 PM

Hi,

Quote:

Source : LiveScience

Children tend to eat what their parents eat, finds a new study that suggests a parental contribution to the growing obesity problem among young children and teenagers.

Researchers found adolescents are more likely to eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day if their parents do. Contrarily, teens whose parents eat fast food or drink soda are more likely to do the same.

Every day, more than 2 million California adolescents (62 percent) drink soda and 1.4 million (43 percent) eat fast food, but only 38 percent eat five or more servings of fruits and vegetables, say the researchers at UCLA Center for Health Policy Research.

The cause of the deficit of healthy foods in teen diets has been attributed in part to the high concentration of fast food restaurants in certain cities and neighborhoods and other environmental factors.

The new research is a reminder, however, that "good dietary habits start at home," said research scientist Susan H. Babey, a co-author of the policy brief. "If parents are eating poorly, chances are their kids are too."

Nearly one-third (30 percent) of California's teenagers are overweight or obese. Poor dietary habits, along with environmental and other factors, are strongly linked to obesity.

The policy brief, which was funded by a grant from the California Endowment, drew upon the responses of thousands of California teenagers queried by the center-administered California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), the nation's largest state health survey. Among the brief's findings:

* Teens whose parents drink soda every day are nearly 40 percent more likely to drink soda every day themselves than teens whose parents do not drink soda.

* Teens whose parents eat five servings of fruits and vegetables daily are 16 percent more likely to do the same than teens whose parents do not eat five servings a day.

* Nearly half of adolescents (48 percent) whose parents drink soda every day eat fast food at least once a day, while only 39 percent of teens whose parents do not drink soda eat fast food at least once daily.

* 45 percent of teens whose parents do not eat five servings of fruits and vegetables daily eat fast food at least once a day, while only 39 percent of teens whose parents eat five servings a day eat fast food at least once daily.

"The research shows us that one of the keys to solving the teen obesity crisis starts with parents, but we must also improve the abysmal food environments in many low-income communities," said Robert K. Ross, president and chief executive officer of the California Endowment. "While parents are the primary role models for their children and their behavior can positively - or negatively - influence their children's health, it is also essential that local officials representing low-income communities work to expand access to fruits, vegetables and other healthful foods."

peace
Daniel

zynthia · #2 (**permalink**) 04-23-2009, 07:50 AM

i think , this is something to do about tolerance.

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RichieCass · #3 (**permalink**) 12-03-2009, 09:42 PM

It is not about tolerance rather it should be about discipline. When parents are disciplined with their foods and habits the children will naturally follow them.

smilly00 · #4 (**permalink**) 12-05-2009, 02:34 AM

Hello
If you are the parent of an overweight or obese child, this site will offer you some insights, tips, and suggestions to help your child get in shape, eat healthy, and get active. Whether you are just beginning to wonder if that "baby fat" will ever go away or if you have "tried everything" and are considering a weight loss camp or other intervention, we have nutrition articles, weight loss tips, and diet and nutrition information to help you start helping your overweight child get fit and healthy.
Did you know? Obesity is defined by many practitioners as 20% above normal weight. If your child should weight around 100 pounds to be in the healthy range and he or she weighs 120 pounds, this is considered to be obese. Other practitioners use BMI (body mass index) to determine whether a child is obese.

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