Obesity Trend, Pregnancy, and Parenting

It's sad to read about the obesity statistics coming up in the next generation of American children. Due to our convenience culture and no-consequences attitudes, more and more children are becoming obese at an early age. World governments try to slap food regulations on restaurants, playtime requirements at schools, but no one really acknowledges the real problem behind childhood obesity: the parents.

I see so many commercials on TV with athletes encouraging youngsters to "get outside" and "get going." If parents would actually put away the video games and computers and force their kids to be normal, productive citizens, the next generation of kids wouldn't be so obese. Period. I think it's rather mean for parents to let their kids get obese. Children cannot make educated decisions with foresight, such as how eating badly during their childhood will most certainly lead to health problems later in life. It's up to the parents.

It's not just elementary kiddies who are suffering. More and more research is pointing to eating habits that are pre-progammed in the womb. I can't tell you how many women who are pregnant tell me about how they eat whatever they want, whenever they want (look up message boards on pregnancy websites. Comments like "Well, I've always wanted to eat a whole chocolate cake, and now I can!!"). People constantly tell me how I should have some more to eat at lunch and enjoy that big ol' stinkin' chocolate cake. But I take the health of my baby seriously, and there's a reason I am at 31 weeks and have gained only 18 pounds. I did a ton of research right after I found out I was knocked up, and adjusted my diet accordingly (the projectile vomit in the first trimester kept my overall weight down, too, I believe). I eat almost entirely fruits, veggies, whole grains and protein. Rarely do I have anything with high fat in it, or lots of sugar. My one splurge is a cup of coffee in the morning and an occasional soda. It's called being responsible. Doctors and nurses have mentioned to me over the past few months that the obesity epidemic is going to pregnant women, too, since they feel the baby gives them a green light to gobble down everything in sight.

The parents of today use television and Playstations as the new babysitter. Kids are no longer required to be active members of society. They then become pasty and rude. I have seen so many examples of this. Kids who just sit in front of something and press buttons all day will not know how to behave out in public, in the real world.

This is something Michael and I discussed at length, since Michael is a big computer/video game fan. I believe children should have chores, homework, outdoor time, and responsibilities while still learning skills that will help them fit in. Will our daughter get a video game system? Most likely, once she's old enough. But she'll be confined to a small amount of play each day, only after her other responsibilities are taken care of.

I strongly believe that all those kids that are out-of-control at your local restaurant are the ones whose parents simply plop them in front of an electronic babysitting machine. But the parents of these spoiled, obese children are not doing their kids any favors.

As a parent, it's your responsibility to ensure the safety and well-being of your child, and prepare them for the life ahead. Obese kids' parents are failing in that area.