Childhood Obesity -- Should it be a crime?

[Schneed10]

Actually, this whole argument is further reason why it's important to stay in school, don't do drugs, don't get pregnant, don't start smoking, graduate, get a good job that pays you well, and marry somebody (and stay married) before having kids.

It puts you in a better position to have the money you need and the spousal support you need to provide kids with even basic nutrition. For some families the constraint is money. For others it's time.

If you get your ass through school, you'll make more money. If you have someone to raise kids with, between the two of you the time can be managed.

Family values. It affects everything, even kids' nutrition.

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

Actually, this whole argument is further reason why it's important to stay in school, don't do drugs, don't get pregnant, don't start smoking, graduate, get a good job that pays you well, and marry somebody (and stay married) before having kids.

It puts you in a better position to have the money you need and the spousal support you need to provide kids with even basic nutrition. For some families the constraint is money. For others it's time.

If you get your ass through school, you'll make more money. If you have someone to raise kids with, between the two of you the time can be managed.

Family values. It affects everything, even kids' nutrition.

I think I agree more with this statement then anything you have ever said. People don't plain to fail they fail to plain. Sounds stupid but it is the truth.

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by firstdown

I think I agree more with this statement then anything you have ever said. People don't plain to fail they fail to plain. Sounds stupid but it is the truth.

Yeah. They fail to plan and then cry out for the government to help them.

I say if you can't plan your own life properly, why should the government plan to help you?

[saden1]

I do all my cooking in a rice cooker. It's easy...and everything the comes out is perfectly cooked/steamed and it tastes delicious.

[EARTHQUAKE2689]

My whole family is athletic as well, so I always have been athletic growing up even though I have always been overweight, I just dont let it get to me. And I have seen a few people over 300 pounds run a 8 minute mile.

[EternalEnigma21]

Quake, I feel ya. I'm pushing 280lbs right now. In high school, I was all district first team football and played soccer almost all my life. I ran 4 miles a day, even on days that I had practice and I never dropped seemed to drop much below 200 lbs (I'm 6' 1"). I didn't lift enough to really get cut or ripped or anything, but I was always very strong (even as a skinny ass kid).

People are astounded when I tell them I weigh almost 300 lbs. My doctor tells me I'm as healthy or more so than most of her patients, but my good cholesterol is low, so I need to exercise. I started eating healthy a few months ago, and started running every day two weeks ago to see where that takes me.

[EternalEnigma21]

well let me just ask you this... would you agree that in some cases obesity in children is a form or, or a direct result of neglect? When I look at the definition of criminal neglect I could interpret that as to already include, at the very least, extreme cases of obesity.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Originally Posted by EternalEnigma21

well let me just ask you this... would you agree that in some cases obesity in children is a form or, or a direct result of neglect? When I look at the definition of criminal neglect I could interpret that as to already include, at the very least, extreme cases of obesity.

I would certainly agree that allowing a child to become obese can constitute neglect. I also think that parents can neglect children by failing to ensure that they focus on their education. But, I simply do not believe the government should be engaged in dictating how parents should raise their children unless the parenting (or lack thereof) poses an imminent and grave threat to the physical health of a child.

[The Goat]

I don't mean to poo on the thread topic in any way cuz there has been an intelligent discussion as a result, but I have to seriously question the premise that the government could do anything. We're a nation of 300+ million spread across an enormous landmass. How will authorities realistically monitor child obesity - not to mention force consequences? Not to change topics but I think an example could make the point clearer. Abortion, despite the conventional wisdom, was common before Roe v. Wade. Hundreds of thousands of women were admitted to hospitals each year for abortions performed in the black market. So the point is that making something illegal doesn't accomplish anything unless the state (meaning government) is going to be invasive enough to monitor and deter. This even has a name: Police State. Most of us never want to live in one.

As to child obesity, maybe we could start by revamping school lunch programs across the country. When I lived in Europe I noticed how much better school lunches are. There's no excuse for feeding crap to kids IMO.

[hooskins]

Originally Posted by The Goat

I don't mean to poo on the thread topic in any way cuz there has been an intelligent discussion as a result, but I have to seriously question the premise that the government could do anything. We're a nation of 300+ million spread across an enormous landmass. How will authorities realistically monitor child obesity - not to mention force consequences? Not to change topics but I think an example could make the point clearer. Abortion, despite the conventional wisdom, was common before Roe v. Wade. Hundreds of thousands of women were admitted to hospitals each year for abortions performed in the black market. So the point is that making something illegal doesn't accomplish anything unless the state (meaning government) is going to be invasive enough to monitor and deter. This even has a name: Police State. Most of us never want to live in one.

As to child obesity, maybe we could start by revamping school lunch programs across the country. When I lived in Europe I noticed how much better school lunches are. There's no excuse for feeding crap to kids IMO.

Good points.

[Daseal]

SGG -- the difference is a child is responsible for his own grades, and the parent is responsible for feeding that child.

You guys are pulling out tons of scenarios about the absolute poorest of the poor in this country. Schneed -- how many obese children live off the dollar menu. I'm willing to bet very few, because a double cheeseburger and fries doesn't come close to satisfying their appetite.

Yes, eating healthy can be expensive, but you can eat well for very cheap. Buy some rice, chicken, and cream of mushroom soup, you have a quick and easy dish that will feed 4-5 for roughly 10 bucks. I could pull out 20-30 recipes off the top of my head like that, because I ate them as a child. As I said in either the original or early post, exceptions will be made for those children with some sort of disorder. That's obvious.

I agree with others that education is key, but for parents that don't care, action should be taken. I'm not talking about little Timmy that has to shop in the husky section. I'm talking about 14 year olds weighing 200 lbs. It's more than just health issues, those kids are excluded from many social events, sporting events, typically have extremely low self-esteem, and it's the parents fault.

I know plenty of people that are either currently quite poor or were at one time poor with children. A man I used to work with would tell me how he would go for four days without eating to make sure his kids and wife had a meal. He told me people in his same situation would hit up McDonalds, but he saved money by going to the grocery store and keeping the price down.

Yes, fresh fruits and veggies will run high, but you can get bags of frozen vegetables which may not be quite as good but are certainly better than McDonalds for .99 cents a bag. Your argument that people are too poor to spend the money laid out above for food or too busy is a poor one. That makes me favor population control in this country. If you can't take the time to feed your children, then you don't deserve to have them.

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by Daseal

SGG -- the difference is a child is responsible for his own grades, and the parent is responsible for feeding that child.

You guys are pulling out tons of scenarios about the absolute poorest of the poor in this country. Schneed -- how many obese children live off the dollar menu. I'm willing to bet very few, because a double cheeseburger and fries doesn't come close to satisfying their appetite.

Yes, eating healthy can be expensive, but you can eat well for very cheap. Buy some rice, chicken, and cream of mushroom soup, you have a quick and easy dish that will feed 4-5 for roughly 10 bucks. I could pull out 20-30 recipes off the top of my head like that, because I ate them as a child. As I said in either the original or early post, exceptions will be made for those children with some sort of disorder. That's obvious.

I agree with others that education is key, but for parents that don't care, action should be taken. I'm not talking about little Timmy that has to shop in the husky section. I'm talking about 14 year olds weighing 200 lbs. It's more than just health issues, those kids are excluded from many social events, sporting events, typically have extremely low self-esteem, and it's the parents fault.

I know plenty of people that are either currently quite poor or were at one time poor with children. A man I used to work with would tell me how he would go for four days without eating to make sure his kids and wife had a meal. He told me people in his same situation would hit up McDonalds, but he saved money by going to the grocery store and keeping the price down.

Yes, fresh fruits and veggies will run high, but you can get bags of frozen vegetables which may not be quite as good but are certainly better than McDonalds for .99 cents a bag. Your argument that people are too poor to spend the money laid out above for food or too busy is a poor one. That makes me favor population control in this country. If you can't take the time to feed your children, then you don't deserve to have them.

I do agree that a child is resonsible for their grades but if the parents do not give them structure and make sure they are doing their home work most kids will not do what they are suppose to do. That is the biggest problem with the school system today is that to many parents don't care. A good example is that my oldest daughter while living with her mother (not my choice our worthless couts decision after she had lived with me for 6 years) grades dropped while living with her mother. After her mother decided that raising a child was not that much fun my daughter moved back in with my wife and I. It took about 6 months to break her of some bad habits and lack of caring and she went from just getting by to making A's & B's. She is now in college and doing very well. If she had stayed with her mother there's a very good chance she would have never gone to college and not cared about her grades.

[Daseal]

Firstdown -- The parents absolutely have a huge role in a child's education. I also think quality of teacher makes a big difference. You are 100% correct that parents are required to oversee the education to build good study habits, but for 8 hours a day (or however long school is) they can't be there enforcing those rules when it matters.

I must admit, my high school grades weren't great. However, once I got into college my grades went up significantly. Part of it was I worked for a bit and matured some. It also was college was far more interesting to me and it wasn't so freaking boring. I see the two issues as similar but different. Kids can change their grades, they have a much more difficult time changing their diet.

Can we all agree that McDonalds, Burger King, etc should be taken out of school cafeterias?

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by Daseal

Firstdown -- The parents absolutely have a huge role in a child's education. I also think quality of teacher makes a big difference. You are 100% correct that parents are required to oversee the education to build good study habits, but for 8 hours a day (or however long school is) they can't be there enforcing those rules when it matters.

I must admit, my high school grades weren't great. However, once I got into college my grades went up significantly. Part of it was I worked for a bit and matured some. It also was college was far more interesting to me and it wasn't so freaking boring. I see the two issues as similar but different. Kids can change their grades, they have a much more difficult time changing their diet.

Can we all agree that McDonalds, Burger King, etc should be taken out of school cafeterias?

Oh yeah, a big hell yes to that one. Food like that has no business being eaten on a regular basis, let alone in the middle of a school day.

If that stuff ever makes it into my school district I swear I'll lead a ferocious assault on the school board (likely involving torches and wooden bats, angry-mob style) to take it out.

[TheMalcolmConnection]

Would you say all restaurants in general have no place in the schools?