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Earlier Discussion

Childhood obesity

Globe and Mail Update

Latest comment posted at 10:41 PM EST 10/04/07

Margaret Wente took your questions ...Read the full article

This conversation is closed

  1. Larry Robinson from white Rock, Canada writes: This is a lifestyle and parenting issue that is reflective of a society too focussed on work, money and immediate gratification to compensate for the shallow gains of material goods vs. family time.
    I am a personal trainer, who has been given 'problem teenagers', and a father of two now adult children.
    Child-with-child unstructured physical play time and daily family quality time for meals and family physical play have almost disappeared in one generation. The result is fast food because of two working parents, television and tech. toys to fill in as play time, and drives to/from school because of convenience and security.
    My 'problem teenagers' simply require unstructured outdoor play with an adult and the opportunity to laugh and talk without the all too common family stresses. In fact, most adults need the same thing but are incapable of 'clicking off'.
    The majority of us now live in one of the three major population areas with high living costs, long commutes, exposure to crime, and disfunctional societal structures.
    Obesity is just a symptom. The problem is loss of quality of life.
  2. David Stanley from montreal, Canada writes: It is certainly a huge problem more so south of the border but still here as well I main problem I believe is one of Economics I am lucky enough to be retired with enough to feast on what ever I want ,mosyly cuys of veal and lots of fruit and veggies but many people today are no so fortunate my grocery bills comes to 500 a month for 2 people a family of 5 would cost alot more many people dont want to spend that much so they instead head down to Medonalds et al regulary for a 3 dollar meal then you have the lazy factor these are the people that buy pre processed foods the alternatives to paying for a healty diet is a lard a$$ at 15 it is not about excercise only as clearly the more you work out the bigger the appetite as long as people put healthy eating on the back burner and opt for greasy garbage large rears will get bigger nintendo et al is another major cause the last 15 years has produced robots that dont blink enough they are the Nintendo generation who have brain damage and nervous ticks this also is a problem concerning the large rumps it is a sad state of affairs when kids are fed garbage .nintendo is the baby sitter and mom and pop feast on fries and hambergers degeneration of society is the result
  3. Alexander Dryden from Ottawa, Canada writes: How about the grotesque overabundance of fat and almost-complete lack of muscle in the brains of current mediots?
  4. T. Braithwaite from Canada writes: When my generation were children most families were lucky enough to have a person who was a full-tme Manager Of The Heathy Eating Regimen. Social roles have irreversibly changed, but there has to be a counterbalancing policy be aimed at filling in the gap (left by the prevalent absence of full-time Managers Of The Heathy Eating Regimen in modern families). Banning trans-fats and running ad campaigns will not reduce the need for fast food and processed foods at breakfast, lunch and dinner and does not result in meals prepared and monitored by a Manager Of The Heathy Eating Regimen. It seems a more successful strategy would be to start teaching and honing the skills of children to prepare healthy meals and monitor food intake on their own. Even the Toronto Maple Leafs have figured out they need to send their rookies to cooking camp, in order to protect their investments in expensive players, who would otherwise live on delivered pizza and other fast food.
  5. Byron MacCleed from Ottawa, Canada writes: Obesity an epidemic?? Get real, this is a lifestyle choice not a disease (although it can cause diseases). People already know what they have to do to keep themselves & their children healthy, but choose to do otherwise. Having commoms committees, etc, spending time on this is 'good politics' not good policy.
    If the government is so concerned about the impact on our national health care system, make people accountable for their actions/choices and only partially fund treatments caused by the same.
  6. terry stortz from Paris, Ontario, Canada writes: Welcome to Generation X-L. Coming soon: sulfonylureas, meglitinides, nateglinides, biguanides, thiazolidinediones, and alpha-glucose inhibitors, all shaped like Fred Flintstone. But seriously Step 1: Stop driving the kids to school, let 'em walk like you and I did.
  7. shel silverstein from Brentwood Bay BC, Canada writes: What childhood obesity epidemic?, I read somewhere on the internet that one 'scientist' saw a whole bunch of skinny kids on his block so obviously childrens weights are going down not up. Or is that just for polar bears? This scary pseudoscience of an obesity epidemic will harm our standard of living, and beside even if it is true if we made all our Canadian kids lean and mean - kids in China would be gaining in size every week. Why should we cut back when junk food sales in China are skyrocketing?
  8. Mr. Big from Bigville, Canada writes: Let's get these kids into sports and not playing video games.

    Tax Fat people and charge parents with abuse if their kids are fat.
  9. Ernest T Bass from United States writes: They're obese because the eat too much!

    Man, do I have to anwer all the tough questions around here? :)
  10. Stringer's Smarter Cousin from London, Canada writes: When I was a wee tad, not only did we walk to school, but we had limited access to fast food. Only two places in town were an old Fish and Chips place (too scary to visit) down by the river and a summer-only dairy bar. No drive-throughs, no instant relief of hunger pangs, and limited access to cheap fatty foods. Most of these problems would go away if the price of gas quadrupled.
  11. Mr. Reilly from writes: Native kids are fatter than most because their parents in most cases do not understand that there has to be moderation. In native culture the kids learn by experience rather than parental guidance. Basically whatever the kid wants the kid gets. In a lot of cases it is because it is cheaper to buy pop than milk in some of the isolated communities.
  12. Daniel St-Jean from Carlisle, Canada writes: We are products of our environment. Didn't anyone listen to your parents say: 'You are what you eat!' Actually, where ARE the parents? Take a moment and write down what you/your children eat in a day! The answer is there... and in exercise.
  13. Peter Halferty from Brampton, Canada writes: I find the increase in the numbers of obese children very hard to swallow. While I am not a perfect parent by any means I am proud of the fact that my children are currently both lean and heathly and enjoy physical activity.

    Sometimes it seems that obesity 'runs in the family'. Obese parents who have unhealthy habits already pass those habits on to their children and either don't see the problem or don't know how to break the cycle.

    However, just as much as this it apparant to me that more and more, parents refuse (or don't know how) to say 'No' to their children. When I hear says to me 'Ya, all her friends have one of those games and she wanted one so what can you do?' I feel like screaming 'Be a Parent!!'. We should be parents first, and friends later. Teaching our children and modelling to them that there is more to do than sit in front of the boob tube and game consoles.
  14. Doretta Wilson from Canada writes: It would also help if kids weren't eating 'snacks' all the time at school. It would also cut down on the amount of garbage that I see in the school yard!

    I tutor children and it is such a waste to have a child come in from recess and then have to sit and eat a snack, usually something that is not always nourishing.
  15. Diane Schweik from EDMONTON, Canada writes: Part of the problem with native obesity is thought to be genetic.It's thought that evolution favoured those best able to accumulate fat during the summer to see them through the long winters.Now this is no longer necessary there is this worse obesity epidemic.
  16. Ronald Onerheim from Montreal, Canada writes: Couldn't our school system step in an introduce a healthy daily dose of physical activity into their curricula? It could immediately benefit the level of fitness in childhood. At the same time such a curriculum would help cultivate good fitness habits and discipline, and introduce students to sports they may enjoy for a lifetime, while at the same time helping to develop concepts of fair play and teamwork. The responsibility for childhood fitness may not fall uniquely to parents but also to our school system.
  17. Janice McNabb from Toronto, writes: I agree that obesity in our children is a symptom rather than the problem itself. To accuse trans fats of causing the obesity is simply diverting attention away from the much more difficult issue of how to change people's behaviours. (Besides, trans fats are simply one of the latest in a seemingly endless list of things we do and/or consume that someone claims are going to kill us.)

    We know that we need to exercise. We know that fast-food and a lot of prepared foods aren't good for us. We understand very clearly the link between physical activity, nutrition and health, but the stats are telling us that many of us just don't care enough to do anything about it. And those of us who do will be penalized as our services are cut to fund treatment and healthcare for the people who can't be bothered to pay attention to their health or, inexcusably, the health of their children.

    Part of the solution is to ensure that the resources are in place to allow people access to a healthy lifestyle: playgrounds within walking distance, indoor playgrounds for winter months, supervised children's activities at gyms and health centres, as a start. Another part of the solution is, I believe, some sort of incentive and/or consequence. One option could be a fitness tax credit -- a positive result in your annual physical would qualify you for this. This suggestion wouldn't cover those below the poverty line, of course, but it could be a start. It would also only apply to the fitness of adults, but the children will be healthier if their parents are.
  18. K O'Keefe from Toronto, Canada writes: Common sense unfortunately isn't the answer. What may seem 'obvious' and 'responsible' to one person may not even register in the consciousness of another. The problem is far more pervasive than simply educating parents; it's about changing lifestyles and habits, as well as our idea of consumerism. It is a modern day phenomena that the poorest people in North America have the highest rates of obesity. When my father was growing up in the 50's he said the reason all of his 7 brothers and 5 sisters were skinny was because the only food his family could afford came out of the ground - the backyard garden. Today however, the cheapest food has the least nutritional value. Many of the working poor spend long hours away from home, have the least amount of disposable income and typically the least amount of education. Prepared foods just fit their lifestyle. They provide something quick, inexpensive and filling. Making spinach taste good takes time and experience. And letting the kids run around after dinner can be dangerous when you live in a high density apartment building. Conveniently though, when we focus on the children we take the pressure off ourselves. Most children are obese because their parents lead a sedentary lifestyle. Why would a child feel inspired to go outside to play when mom and dad are sitting on the couch? With nutrition, we are the drivers of these trends. Organic food is expensive because not enough consumers demand certain environmental standards be applied to the production of our food. Yet we continue to fill the pockets of fast food chains that by sheer volume can purchase mass quantities of food at the lowest price. Education about food choices and preparation is key. But healthy food must be affordable in order to make a difference. And instead of closing our city's pools and limiting after school activities, why don't we create safe opportunities for excercise and play for the children that need it the most?
  19. urban planner from Canada writes: Eating is only half the equation - exercise is the other, as many of you have noted. Many of us know how difficult it is to fit a trip to the gym (or a PE class) into our lives. So, one key is the design of our neighbourhoods and cities.

    Several comments have remembered walking or biking to school. Yes, parents today often choose to drive their kids to school for convenience. But there are also safety issues, and I'm not talking about the scary stranger.

    Look around your neighbourhood. Are there safe sidewalks on every side of every street? Is the local elementary school on a major street that's tough for a youngster to cross? Can a child bike from home to the community centre or a local park? Can Mom pick up a jug of milk from the store by grabbing a stroller rather than the car keys? Are there trees to shade her from summer heat or spring rain?

    If we want to address obesity, we need to build our cities and neighbourhoods so that exercise is not a chore, but just a safe, pleasant, and normal way of getting around and accomplishing our daily activities.
  20. Michael Leblanc from Toronto, Canada writes: It's up to the parents. They should stock nutritious food and not fork over loads of disposable income for kids to spend on junk. But it seems many or most parents are delusional when it comes to their own child's weight. A big part of parenting is saying 'no'. I've gotten the impression that some parents are more interested in being buddies with their kids than parents of, which is a disastrous approach in my view.
  21. Janice McNabb from Toronto, writes: The schools are actually paying more attention to physical health again. Just over the past couple of years, the funding for Specialist teachers, including gym teachers, has risen. I have 2 children in elementary school, and their schedule has been changed from 2 gym classes in a 6 day cycle 2 years ago to 8 gym classes in a 10 day cycle this year. They also have 20 minutes a day dedicated to Physical Daily Activity.

    It does sound a bit strange and overly rigid -- when I was a kid, we just "played" -- but we've created this strange and paranoid environment ourselves. Skipping ropes aren't allowed at school for recess because they're considered dangerous. Same with balls. And snowballs. And walking to school or the corner store or the library. We build and move to sub-divisions that don't actually have the school or corner store or library within walking distance, so kids are driven everywhere.

    The adults in this society need to take responsibility for the next generation. Give them back skipping and tag and other games rather than Physical Daily Activity.
  22. Stephen P from Cambridge, Canada writes: If there is a metaphor for our current situation it's the Tim Horton's drive through. This combines usually poor food (and I use the term loosely) choice with a complete lack of activity. Some might claim that they use the drive through to save time, but that usually isn't the case. On the rare occassion that I stop at our national doughnut store, I'm always in and out before several cars that were in the drive through have been served. Part of this might be that one doesn't have to butt his smoke if carbound, but that is another issue. This sort of behaviour is noted by kids and will be imitated.
    The metaphor I cited has another element to it. That is that people don't cook, or can't. As a working parent I prepared most of the meals my kids ate. I once had an incredulous mother call me to comment that her son, a friend of my son, claimed to have eaten brocolli at my house, and further confessed to asking for seconds. She commented that her son hated brocolli. I pointed out to her that in my experience kids will eat almost anything with a good cheese sauce on it. I make mine from scratch, 4 ingredients total. This lesson wasn't lost on my kids, one of whom, my skinny son, is training to become a chef.
  23. Normand LaBine from Winnipeg, Canada writes: I'm a bit dissappointed with the limited scope in this discussion. There are huge populations on the planet not affected by this 'trend' and no one seems to be willing to make the comparisons. In countries where corn is a central factor in daily diets, there is virtuality no measurable obesity. Women get 'plumper' after pregnancy, but never obese. Having lived elsewhere, where major fast-food franchises never replaced local hamburger and taco stands, I find it misleading to suggest that individuals take responsibility in a one-time Live Discussion, when all day today, the fast-food chains will invade our mailboxes, and TV programming, some 8 to 16 times per hour. We're back to hearing the 'wee small voice in the desert'. Don't buy the junk, eat less of it, eat better stuff, and let your subliminal programming carry on. Is that the result of this discussion? Where is the connection to Stress Management, self-delusions, self-imposed martyrdom and the acids that defeat the digestive system's usefullness? Where is the need to quantify input and output? We know we can calculate the maximum output of energy of gasoline, diesel, kerosene, ethanol, and how much horsepower, torque, mileage we can expect from them. Nobody has broached food input versus energy output of people by age, weight, types of foods. Now I will concede one small fact on Mexican Corn diets and obesity. It has increased since Monsanto started to contaminate major Miaze crops in Mexico's corn-growing regions around Oaxaca/Chiapas with GM corn, but since when did quality of food ever become measured for nutritive value and energy value? I think Ms. Wente stayed to her blindered topic very well, because there are many options and factors available for closer scrutiny.
  24. Jane Doe from Canada writes: Mrs. Wente made very little sense, I'm sad to say. She agreed with most of the comments indicating obesity is a lifestyle choice (which I strongly believe to be the case), but then went on denying such a thing and saying it's all genetics and only pills will be able to save us from it. You can't have it both ways, Mrs. Wente. I am overweight, while my husband and kids are on the skinny side. The only lifestyle difference is my extreme fondness for sweets and junk food, which luckily none of them possesses. My preschooler, bless him, would actually refuse a cookie and ask for a snack of raw carrots instead. It's easy to blame someone else - MacDonalds or Lindt made me do it - when it's actually our responsibility.
  25. John Smith from Canada writes: I was surprised to see Margaret downplay the importance of promoting exercise. Maintaining a healthy weight involves eating less, eating foods that are lower in fat and composed of more complex sugars (e.g. fruit), and exercising. We should tax gasoline and unhealthy food much more heavily, and subsidize healthy foods and exercise options. Either that, or get rid of subsidized health care (which I do not think is a good way to go).
  26. Jane Doe from Canada writes: Oh, and saying that comparative to other epidemics obesity is not such a bad thing is absolutely moronic. For the first time in Canada life expectancy has been going down, due to obesity and its health complications. This is a much worse legacy to leave our children than even the messed up environment.
  27. Mowho33 Who from Canada writes: Just a couple of suggestions as the mom of a 2 yr old. I'm bracing for my son to start demanding junk at the grocery store.

    1) Ban junk food from the check-out counter at the grocery store. This is where adults and children do too much impulse buying. All the crap should be on one easily avoidable aisle.

    2) Ban junk food advertising from tv. Sounds crazy but I'm susceptible to environmental triggers and most obese people are probably also susceptible. We don't need to see crap on tv. This will be a very hard sell to the govt, but if we're serious, we should do it.
  28. Normand LaBine from Winnipeg, Canada writes: Jane Doe from Canada, you should do yourself a favour and visit an international food store. People from Latin America, India and Africa eat natural sweets made from sugar cane or other natural sources mixed with spices that counter the fat-producing agents and cooperate with the digestive acids.

    Here in the Prairies, Aboriginals made all kinds of breads and corn-meal based pastries from Corn, for millenia. Along comes the "Just Add Water" fad, and two-buck meal in a bag franchises and out goes common sense.

    You won't find 'back-to-basics' products in regular North American stores, whereas the International, cultural stores offer a far healthier, diversified range of products, non-destructive sweets and far more harmonious (to the human body) foods than our over-chemistry synthetic options.
  29. chris thomas from toronto, Canada writes: Are you getting the feeling that life wasn't supposed to be this easy? That the human body was made to be driven, not to drive?
    Active transportation (meaning biking and walking) with the help of public transit, and the proper diet are the keys to this problem.

    So - why not start an incremental, but steady, increase in the gasoline tax to get people out of their cars (and use the money to fix the environment and transportation problems), and a similar tax on fast foods and meat (the fats in which cause obesity, diabetes, heart problems etc).
  30. Theresa Carle-Sanders from Pender Island, Canada writes: We are fortunate to live on a small island where we have no direct access to fast food restaurants at all. A limited number of restaurants (3, plus the pub) means that we cook our own meals most nights.

    When we moved here 4 years ago, one of my first observations was that most long time residents did not have weight problems. Many here grow the majority of their food, and they use bi-weekly or monthly trips to Vancouver/Victoria as "treat time." That means that we eat McDonalds once per month instead of once per day. For me, that has ended a lifelong struggle to maintain a healthy weight. I no longer go up and down on the scale like I did for most of my life.

    There's too much temptation and constant advertising in "mainstream" communities. I just don't think most people can fight that kind of pressure.

    When we go to the grocery store, I let my kids help choose meals and snacks. There's only one rule: We don't buy any item where the first ingredient is sugar (or an equivalent). You'd be amazed at how that limits the field, and how easy it was to implement.
  31. Normand LaBine from Winnipeg, Canada writes: Mowho33 Who from Canada. Remember the 5 cent Elephant popcorn, that pink-coloured stuff? I used to buy it for the prize, and throw out the popcorn. Even the crows wouldn't eat it! Squirrels would, but birds wouldn't. I was the ripe old age of 7 when I noticed that. My wife came back the other day with some noname chocolate chips to make cookies. We always bought the good stuff, but she couldn't resist the price. She looked on the bag for a recipe - there wasn't any, so she went looking for the one she kept from the name-brand. I started to compare. Brand X had chocolate as the main ingredient. the other brand had NO chocolate, not even flavouring. It went in the trash, and I went to get the Brand X for 90 cents more. Ah! but chocolate is a sweet! No. If you mix it with other spices it becomes a medicine, a pain-killer, a remedy for colds, diabetes, arthritis, a poultice for certain rashes. It seems that Mother Nature is just full of surprises! The same things that can kill us, can heal us. If you've been to Quebec, you'll find a traditional soft-drink called Spruce or Pine beer. Funny thing is, there's rarely any major flu pandemic in Quebec. So when one of the prime factors used in Tami-flu was announced to be pine sap, and knowing that a willow leaf produces the key ingredient in Asprin (ASA), I wasn't surprised. Even the popular Viagra comes from the root of a Venezuelan plant. I wonder if Adam knew that when he was told to go forth and multiply. Its the only body we get, yet we don't even know as much about maintaining as we do about our cars. It should be easier now with the Internet, but people don't know how to use 'key words'. That would make a good tutorial on a MS Windows Install disk, wouldn't it. "Using Search Engines 101 to 505". If you mix Chocolate with Chili seeds you get 'Mole', after over-cooking it for a few hours. It's a gravy, a medicine, a poultice, a skin cream, etc. But in our culture, everything is packaged for single use.
  32. carol c. from Canada writes: Ultimately, the problem is that we, as a society, eat too much and exercise too little. Part of this is the easy availability of high calorie food. The other part is the set up of our cities and towns where you simply must drive. I would bike to work. Except that the road upon which I must travel has no bike paths and people regularly ignore the 50km/hr speed limit and drive at speeds upwards of 80km/hr. We should be doing urban planning so that it is safe and convenient for people to get out of their cars.
  33. Cynthia C from Toronto, Canada writes: If everyone ate together as a family, with proper eating utensils and proper manners, then everything will be fine. Today, too many kids eat with big bites, something that people from cultures who eat with their hands don't do. Children should be trained to be proper ladies and gentlemen from a very, very early age. It's too bad that families don't do this anymore.
  34. Cherry Cheng from Canada writes: I think a lot of it has to do with how the parents raise their children. If they strictly didn't allow them to eat junk food ever since they were small, they would not build the habit of overeating junk food. Ever since I was small, my mom would never allow me to buy junk food even when we go grocery shopping together, and so I have never built a habit of buying junk food. I think the parents these days are so much easier on the kids. If they nag a bit about wanting, say McDonald's, they would get it. It all has to do with how kids are taught and raised by their parents.
  35. Peter Simpson from Vancouver, Canada writes: Dear Peter, stop swallowing our fat children:

    "Peter Halferty from Brampton, Canada writes: I find the increase in the numbers of obese children very hard to swallow."

    Sorry....couldn't resist;-)
  36. james castle from Canada writes: Isn't this mostly the fault of the fatties?
  37. Gary Cannon from Ottawa, Canada writes: Since companies who produce the deadly high-sodium, high-sugar, high-fat foodstuffs will take no responsibility for tempting children with the garbage they produce, and government will take no action, the onus here is squarely on the shoulders of parents. Which is pretty scary, since most parents shouldn't even be allowed to have children, to whom they pass down their ignorance and stupidity. The only way to give a kid a fighting chance is to rule with an iron fist over what he or she consumes. Not doing so causes ruinous childhoods, huge health risks later in life, and adds huge fiscal burden to the health care system.
  38. john chuckman from Toronto, Canada writes: I'm genuinely disappointed Ms. Wente didn't mention adult brain obesity, a subject on which she's a widely-recognized expert.
  39. Paul Sallmen from Burnaby, BC, writes: Needless to say, this problem is not an easy fix, but some posts have hit the nail on the head by suggesting cities should be planned around walking and biking (not driving a car!) and unhealthy food shouldn't be so easy and cheap to get. And the solution? Well there you'll have a variety of opinions, just as the comments here have said!

    Cities have perhaps one of the biggest roles to play. Take the city of Vancouver for instance. City council has long adopted the philosophy of compact urban development. Biking to work is relatively common (well, relative to other cities anyway). Residents have general been strongly against highway promotion (like the Gateway project to twin the Port Mann bridge that links Burnaby and Vancouver to the outer suburbs up the Fraser Valley).

    I think cities across the country need to start tearing down highways, strip malls and parking lots and replacing them with European-style villages where people live, work and play all within a 1 km or so radius. Bike lanes and pedestrian walks should be everywhere. These could also double as cross-country ski trails in winter for cities that have high snowfall. Imagine cross-country skiing to work everyday. Can you think of anything much healthier than that?

    I think that unless urban planning changes, decreases in obesity will probably be marginal.
  40. Puntal Puntal from Calgary, Canada writes: A) Fat tax, fat tax, fat tax! If people are driven to junk food to a large part due to cost, then the gov't needs to artificially increase the cost of this crap and use that to subsidize healthy foods. SIMPLE! And the tax need not apply to food alone; video games and other things that eat into potential exercise/socialization time are equally guilty.
    B) Shame the fatties in public! No more mollycoddling people who are at some sort of "disadvantage" due to their own lifestyle choices (or those of their parents) - start charging varying prices for fast/restaurant food based on the patron's BMI; boo hoo if it's not such a friendly remedy.
  41. Aneta Woroniecka-Osio from Ajax, Canada writes: It is true, that children are getting fatter and fatter because of poor nutrition and lack of physical exertion. The same applies to adults.
    I agree with Ms. Wente, that as long as nutritional foods cost more and are more difficult to find or identify, there will be obese children and adults among us. Also, the ubiquituos fast food chains are doing us no favour. Still, I believe that education is vital and it will pay off, eventually.
  42. Jennifer Jilks from Muskoka, Canada writes: What a terrific opportunity to have some discourse.
    I believe that our children are further at risk due to the lack of control over what they eat in schools. Uneducated parents often send in junk food with their children. These children try to buy friends. I have had students who would bring in a full bag of potato chips and share them with their pals. The students whose parents knew better did not know that their kids ate such garbage.
    The new 'Balanced Day' in schools does not necessarily lead to better nutrition either. Students who skip breakfast would inhale their lunch during the first nutritional break, then have nothing left - at least nothing nutritional left or mooched off of friends. Many schools cannot control this problem, many teachers are unwilling or unable. Some older students have permission to walk to corner stores in cities and further fill their bellies with junk.
  43. Mark Mitchell from Vancouver, Canada writes: It's easy to blame "authorities" or food producers, but most of the blame has to rest with consumers. We makes our own choices, including whether or not to be discplined or lazy (with ourselves and our children), indulgent or restrained, informed or ignorant (information is free), moderate or greedy, etc. Perhaps we're paying the price for discarding such "old fashioned" virtues as moderation, self-control and self-discipline. There's no such thing as a free lunch, even in an increasingly fat world.
  44. ELizabeth Zafiris from Toronto, writes: Unfortunately, removing trans fat, labeling food packaging and removing junk food from schools won't solve child obesity. The problem stems from the breakdown of the nuclear family which is partially the result, although I hate to admit it, of woman entering the work force and extended work hours. Parents just don't have the time to prepare nutritious meals and therefore opt for quick and easy solutions which usually consist of high fat and low nutritional value.
  45. rose deshaw from Kingston, Ontario, Canada writes: Parent education is where we need to be putting our energy. Actually, not just in regards to nutrition, but parenting skills in general need to be a compulsory part of having a baby. In order to receive the baby bonus, parents should have to pass an exam. If they fail, then they need to be enrolled in ongoing classes that are geared to reach them, that do not in any way judge or criticize them but show how children can be raised and families can cope by experienced counselor teachers who are aware of the hardship real life in the community. A parent should not be able to buy their way out of this curricula. This would be the most cost effective way to ensure our future. DeShaw
  46. Barbara Olson from Vancouver, Canada writes: This is an issue of poor parenting, and if you look around you'll notice that many of them are obese as well. Who knows what it will take for these parents to take responsibility. The blame game is flourishing, as usual in this country, amid cries for the "nanny state" to intervene. Soon the food police will be monitoring every bite we take, with, as usual, negligible results.
  47. Dan Dodds from Kitchener, Canada writes: It shouldn't be up to the government to police what we eat. We should be able to police ourselves. If the junk food isn't in the house then the kids can't eat it. Or another option would be to only give it to the kids on special occasions. When I was growing up it was never an option to get pop and chips on a daily basis. Maybe the parents should encourage their kids to play outside, and if the parents are overweight they could always join the kids outside for a game of catch (or whatever).

    And if you don't want your kids playing outside you could always encourage them to get some excercise with a team (or individual) sport, or if you don't have the money for that get the kid to help out with yardwork. Maybe if you make it fun for the kid then they will enjoy it and make it easier on the parents as that is one less thing for them to do.

    The solutions to this problem seem rather simple to me. If the parents are around and actually take an interest in their childrens well being I would think that the childrens weight shouldn't even be an issue that enters the household.
  48. S H from Vaughan, Canada writes: Let's all try to encourage healthy eating, active lifestyles, and increased metabolism rates. The kids are watching us and keeping tabs for future reference.
  49. Richard Stoimenov from Canada writes: OBESITY = Diabetes = Sugars = Simple Carbohydrates SOLUTION: put a hefty health tax – something like a 100% - on all foods that contain sugar. Thus the poor can’t afford to buy them i.e., most foods in supermarkets have simple carbs in them, fast foods, junk foods, etc. Also ban these foods at all public institutions and especially in schools. Give a tax credit to all consumption of fruits, vegetables – medium carbs – and an outstanding health tax credit – something like 50% - to individuals consuming foods rich in complex carbs – such as whole grains; this will help our desperate farmers too you know. OBESITY = Heart Disease/Attack = Strokes SOLUTION: put a draconian health tax on all foods that contain any harmful FATS, i.e., cholesterol, transfat, saturates, Again most foods at all stores have bad fats in them though some are advertising trans fat free there’s no guarantee that some bad fats are not there. Give a great health tax credit to individuals consuming foods rich in vegetable sources of protein, since they’re nearly void of bad fats. OBESITY = Intoxication = Emotional/Mental Imbalance SOLUTION: put a ridicules tax on all “so Called foods” that contain any harmful chemicals i.e., food additives, preservatives, etc. Likewise, give a notable tax credit to individuals consuming foods certifiably organic; this will reward farmers to produce natural foods. Similarly for industries, commerce and transportation; more than a century ago electric cars existed; IF IT HAD BEEN DEVELOPED; maybe the youth today would be flying cars instead of playing video games. Imagine all the BILLIONS! We would save on health care? Could it not go towards Education; constructive social reasons? OBESITY is SOCIETY’S PROBLEM and thus, our CULTURE is WANING! Yes, the parents too are to blame; do the kids being raised have the basic necessities for life, education? WHO Love’s them if they’re all alone; gangs? TOO MANY are hungry devoid of hope and will. Reverse the tide!
  50. Shawna Fryer from Burlington, Canada writes: I was an overweight child and continue to struggle with my weight as an adult. What I have learned is that weight is not about food. Food choices and eating patterns are symptoms of something deeper taking place. These deeper issues can be related to human needs like self-esteem, love and belonging or knowing our life's purpose. Overweight adults and overweight children are people out of balance. Something is missing in their lives and they are using food to fill the void. If we look at our world today, there are many things out of balance: we idolize celebrity, we don't sit down to family dinners, religion (and more importantly faith) has all but disappeared, divorce rates are skyrocketing...I could go on and on. It is a world where technology has us used to immediate results, so the patience and hard work required to lose weight is even more unbearable than it used to be. In the 'olden days', we couldn't buy dinner without even getting out of our cars, we had to get up to change the channel, we had to bike to our friends house because Dad had the one family car at work, etc. This is the easy life, in many ways. And just as obesity used to be a sign of wealth and prosperity, it is now demonstrating that in many ways we all live the 'easy life'. Even the 'poor people' have televisions and iPods. So we live these 'easy' lives full of material and technological goods but still feel empty and this emptiness is filled with food - the tastier the better the feelings. I think obesity is both a personal and societal issue, but it won't be solved until we are able to tolerate discomfort, develop patience and find ways to be emotionally satiated.
  51. Simone Edwards-Forde from Nepean, Canada writes: I think obesity children should go outside and play instead of watching TV and eat too much. Also, obesity children get exercrise every day and less junk food. If they didn't get excrise and they will have a health problem in the future. Parent should teach their children what to eat such as proper health food-fruits and vegetable. Parents should encourage their children to involved any sport. Also, I would like to see any schools should to be remove vending machine (junk food-chips, soda cans, chocolate bar and others) and put health food.
  52. carl mctavish from Canada writes: When I read this, I think of two things.
    1. Its the parents fault for not teaching their children healthy lifestyles. Junk food advertising and television existed twenty years ago (when I was a kid) and people were not as fat then as now.
    2. It is also time to implement user fees in the health care system. I don't want to spend my tax dollars on people who don't take proper care of themselves. Perhaps if health problems would hurts obese people in the pocketbook, then that could be a motivation to a. lose weight or b. not get fat in the first place.
  53. suzette james from brampton, Canada writes: Parents need to be taught on proper nutrition for their kids. A child from birth is not saying "Mommy give me more fries". Parents need to take responsibility for their children’s health.
  54. Tom R from victoria, Canada writes: Eating healthy is not necessarily the problem that it's made out to be. However there is a obesity reality as well. So, what's to be done? Obviously a healthy diet [start with the Canada Health Guide] and physical exercise [start with walking] are the first steps....taking the time to look after ourselves and our childern must become our highest priority. Why this hasn't occured [enough] remains an enigma to me and many others...too often it's a choice but that's not true for everyone. Time for All of us to look in the mirror and see what we can do Better.

  55. Carole Dube from Canada, writes: I'm a parents that is taught on proper nutrition for my kids and I still have an overweightt child. He was a very skinny toddler and started to gaine weight at about 8. He played hockey 3 to 5 times a week, the school at Gym 4 time a week and still manage to gain weight. I had no chips,cookies ect..in the house. We rarelly hate at fast food. He is the only overweight person in my household.
    You can't keep blamming the parents. Most parents don't want their children to be overwait.
  56. donna lyn from Toronto,Ontario, writes: I believe that the cause of childhood obesity is due to a combination of lack of exercise due to the popularity of computers, computer games, TV, etc., and from the over-processing of food that has removed most nutrition and added artificial fillers, chemicals, and unhealthy fats. The government has to get legislation in place to regulate food production methods.
  57. Denise Law from Toronto, Canada writes: As much as I believe that child obesity is a huge problem in Canada, I also think the other extreme is just as worse. And I'm referring to extremely skinny girls who refuse to eat pastries with me because they're afraid to get "fat." I'm currently in university and I honestly thought that by now, girls just wouldn't care anymore. But they still do. It's more of a "female" fear. Everything is about the exterior, the look, the sex appeal. When I go the gym to lift weights or work out, it's considered manly. I do feel odd at times, being the only girl in a weight room dominated by thirty men. But when I lift weights, it reminds me that I'm doing it because I do care about my health, not because I want to lose weight and fit into a pair of celebrity jeans. I do eat a lot. I eat fruits, veggies, sweets, chocolates, cakes (but not to a damaging degree). I don't starve myself either. But sometimes, I admit I am tempted to "count carbs" and I feel really guilty about that. Yes, child obesity is a problem. But I do believe that if their parents are lazy, chances are, the kids will be lazy too. I'm a firm believer in the phrase, "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree." I've been a tom boy all my life. I've played sports and I still eat. The whole "look like a model" factor also really hits women the hardest. Why must we all try to emulate the "sex and the city" lifestyle? It's so disempowering, it makes me sick. On the one hand, kids are either too obese and not athletic enough. On the other hand, girls are too skinny. So where's the balance?
  58. Caroline Wigley from Vancouver, Canada writes: Our current lifestyles nuture obestity within our youth. Our desire to succeed in today's society has resulted in less time for ourselves and the need to find solutions, thus the creation of fast food. For most people, dinner is well taken care of and there is an occasional frozen dinner or pizza, which isn't a problem. The real issue is no more packed lunches. Students eat at the cafeteria or nearby fast food joints which usually serve meals packed with enough fat, grease and otherwise for a two day recommended daily intake. Having this every day starts to take its toll. Furthermore, pop is everywhere in schools as soft drink companies sponser school events and thus gain monopoly rights to promote their products on school property. And it doesn't help when faced with the choice for a $2.50 bottle of juice vs. $1.00 can of pop. There needs to be higher taxes placed on "comfort" foods and price cuts for healthy choices. It is a shame when you enter the supermarket and anything healthy costs 3 to 4 times the price of junk food. So tax the goodies and bring back peanut butter sandwiches for packed lunches!!
  59. John Koziar from Oshawa, Canada writes: The problem is a lack/excess of social cruelty. That was misleading because the cruelty is still there, it's just been shifted from survival-of-the-fittest-make-fun-of-the-weakest mode to be-mean-to-everyone-because-it's-funny mode. Also, sexism makes males not mind being slobby. Why aren't more young boys seeking to attain the unattainable male-model's physique? As long as you aren't on 'roids; having this goal is a good thing. This is why gay men are sexier than straight man (an unarguable fact); straight men expect thin, large-breasted women (or whatever their tastes happen to be) and many women just don't expect much of anything these days. Of course, gay men have to give as good as they want to get, so there's a stronger natural drive to look fit. As for the other gender, I think that although on the superficial layer of what's hip or fashionable ultra-thinness is desired, as soon as you scratch that surface and get down to what most people desire in a woman it's healthiness. People don't want rakes, they like to have more than one thing to grab, uh, other than the rake's handle. Most of the famously sexy female celebrities have, among other desirable attributes, visible musculature on display at certain key points of their body. For instance Keira Knightley, thought by some to be unnaturally thin, in fact sports a well-defined set of abs: http://www.lacoctelera.com/myfiles/snakesolido/keira%20knightley.jpg. If teenaged girls are trying to look like Keira Knightley and are doing it without doing abdominal (et al.) excercises, then they're just plain confused.
  60. Melissa Turner from Merritt B.C, Canada writes: I believe there is a number of reasons why children are over weight and that is; 2 parents working all the time, and when they come home from work they are too tired or to lazy to make proper meals, and fast food makes an easy supper. Sure once in a while is ok, but it should not become a habit. Both my parents worked full time and we still had proper meals we rarley had fast food. Not enough exercise and too much TV, video games, and computer time. Parents can be to passive and give their children what THEY want and not what is good for them. There are vending machinces in elementray schools that shouldn't be there. When I was in elementry school there weren't any. Children are having bought lunches instead of homemade. Why not teach children to make their own lunches and mabe they would appreciate it more. Parents being to over pertective and not letting there children walk or ride their bike to school. Their chances of getting diabeties is higher than them being kidnapped. What I believe to be the most important thing is moderation and moderation is the key. Be moderate in what you eat, drink and exercise. It really is that simple.
  61. Lord Cross of Blacks Harbour from Blacks Harbour NB, Canada writes: terry stortz from Paris, Ontario, Canada writes: Welcome to Generation X-L. Coming soon: sulfonylureas, meglitinides, nateglinides, biguanides, thiazolidinediones, and alpha-glucose inhibitors, all shaped like Fred Flintstone. But seriously Step 1: Stop driving the kids to school, let 'em walk like you and I did. Posted 29/03/07 at 8:48 AM EDT Absolutely first-rate idea, Terry. Particularly, 'let 'em walk like you and I did.' That took me back to my dear Gran' who insisted that I walk to school. {14 miles, one way} It was the 'getting home for lunch' that threw the monkey wrench into the works. Gran' insisted that I come home for lunch. After struggling with her command for a brief 3-week period, gran' conceded her idea was a 'tad' unreasonable. Thereafter, she kitted me up with a baggy containing mustard and molasses sandwiches ... {definitely an acquired taste}! Lunch break started at 11:50 a.m., ending at 1:10 p.m. {SHARP} Gran' made the concession because she thought it unreasonable that I 'wolf' down my lunch in her presence. The result was that we were able to converse, ever so briefly, just inside the kitchen door, on my lunch visit. I never told Gran' that I always ate my sandwiches on the way home, because she didn't ask. It didn't seem to matter to her because the visit was the important thing. Gran' always commented on how well I looked, ruddy cheeks and all, though {negatively} a 'mite thin.' I won the 'short essay' contest one year too. The theme was, "how we enjoyed our summer." My one-line essay, "I didn't, because it rained the whole damn time," received an A for brevity and precision. I now have a burgeoning medical practice, doing prefrontal lobotomies, {unassisted} on our kitchen table. Please keep well, Terry, because it's good to know there are kindred spirits 'out there' in this world. I'm working on a short story right now ... dealing with my UFO abduction. More later on that. I cleared the site of empties before I called the police.
  62. Amanda Burtoft from Chatham, Canada writes: Parents need to be educated on healthy eating. Lead by example for your children. There are too many convenience foods laden with calories. Busy lives allows for less time for scratch cooking. More self control and everything in moderation should be the message. As well physical activity should be incorporated into education in the schools.
  63. gayle hallgren from Vancouver, Canada writes: I recently returned from Japan and when shopping in stores most sizes were available in Small and Medium. Didn't see a Large or Extra Large anywhere. On the streets I didn't see one obese person (sumo wrestlers...well, that's another story). Were there fast food joints? Yes, lots. Does Japan have a problem with the growing girth of their society, yes. But arriving back in the US, prior to travel to Canada, immediately the difference between North America and Japan is staggering At Seattle airport morbidly obese people were in full flower. And, the same was true when we arrived back in Canada. Yes, there are lots of reasons for the difference between Japanese and North Americans, but one of the key reasons has got to be PORTION SIZE. In Japan food is delicious but portions are small. No one takes home doggie bags. Eat a croissant in Japan and it is not the diametre of a dinner plate, like in North America. It's a quarter that size. French pastries abound, but they are petit. You get the picture. Smaller portions, smaller people.
  64. Sonja van der Putten from Vancouver, Canada writes: Presently, I'm teaching English in France, and I've noticed that the grocery stores in many European countries such France, Holland and Belgium, have isles and isles of biscuits, cookies, cakes, chocolate etc.. Many Dutch grocery stores even have isles dedicated to sweets such as sprinkles and chocolate spreads that are put on toast for breakfast. Furthermore, there are more boulangaries in France than there are Starbucks in downtown! However, the populations in these countries do not have nearly the same obesity problems that are facing North Americans. While this could be contributed to a variety of factors, from my experience, the major difference seems to be a lifestyle. Europeans eat in moderation, their portion sizes are smaller, and they're more active. In France for example, they have two hour breaks everyday for lunch. Eating in Europe is a social time. It's a time for family and friends, to gather and talk and enjoy eachother and their food. In North America we are such a fast-paced society that we rarely have time to enjoy eachother, nevermind our food. Europeans eat whole and rich foods which may be worse for our hearts than North American's non-fat, low fat, suger free etc. food, yet they eat much smaller quantities and are satisfied sooner and remain full longer. Perhaps it's the types of food that allow them to exercise more self-control when eating and limiting their portion sizes.
  65. Courtney Wedemire from Coquitlam, Canada writes: It seems that most of the conversations focuses on a single intervention, but to address this problem of obesity we need a broad, multi-level approach that is backed up by evidence. This includes the children, parents, schools, communities, and the government. "Health Weights for Healthy Kids" addresses the need for this. The suggestions presented by the committee should be seriously considered by the Canadian government. The health costs that obesity has created will continue to increase as the prevalence of obesity increases and as these children become adults and develop preventable, chronic diseases. Funding and effort need to be put into intervention and prevention as soon as possible.
  66. itsmy opinion from Dryden, Canada writes: Super Size portions, extra large "double double" coffee, caffeine rich energy drinks, Slushies, tetra juice packs (basically sugar and water - read the labels, parents) bombarding ads emphasizing fast food and pre-made convenience foods loaded with salt, fats and preservatives, drive-thus for ATMs, coffee shops, buses chauffering teens only several blocks to school, TV with hundreds of channels, computers, video games, parental inability to just say "No", pizza and hot dog days in schools, as well as vending machines - and we need studies to explain obesity!? Over 20 years ago, my parents allowed one night a month for fast food/TV dinners and very few snacks in the house at any given time. When I was 8 yo, my sister and I WALKED to school every day - it took us 20 minutes each way - until graduating from high school. We were allowed to watch one hour of TV daily, up until we graduated from high school, and we both started working at age 12 babysitting, then yardwork, retail, our own summer businesses, etc. Thank goodness my parents had the common sense not to let us "veg out" for hours in front of the "Boob Tube" or mope around the house complaining about being "bored". Turn off the TV, the computers, the iPods, MP3 players, Game Boys, cell phones - ride a bike, walk, go swimming, take a class, join a club, volunteer, join a team. Honestly, parents need to be positive role models. How can you motivate your kids to get off their duffs when they see you constantly using drive-thrus for food, banking and coffee, and sitting on your duffs watching hours of TV, or on your computer!? Set an example in your own household. It's sad that schools have to implement regular excercise activities. That should be parents' responsibilities. Teachers have enough to deal with on a daily basis. I cancelled my cable TV service three years ago. Best decision I've ever made. The cost savings means more family activities and eating healthy, quality food.
  67. Allan Harmsworth from Canada writes: I have seen children arrive at a restaurant and the bottom of their soles were not dirty. The child was lifted from the stroller to a chair, mother went for the food (sugary doughnut) and the procedure was reversed back into the stroller. I have seen the same thing at a grocery store in and out of the grocery cart to the car. These are children a few years old, not babies. Strings of parents line up at all the schools to drive their sweeties back home lest a pervert abduct them. No crowds of children are playing on the streets after school, no kids are on bikes. Between no exercise, sugar and pseudo-estrogen and other growth hormones in the food, why is everyone surprised North Americans are fat, as increasingly is the rest of the world.
  68. Ann Abbott from St. John's, Canada writes: I remember walking to school some years ago, and home for lunch, then back to school, then home again after school, there was never a call from me to say (mom, come pick me up) as is the way it is now with my daughter and all her friends. Now don't get me wrong, she's a very healthy eater and is a member of a gym and is constantly involved with one sport or another, she is 5 foot, 8 inches and weighs 120lbs. Excellent you might think, but don't be fooled, because she's not overweight, she's sometimes lazy. ( My doing) because, I drop her off to school in the morning, which is a 5 minute walk for her, so that her hair don't get wet. If you get my point, if there are no medical reasons for a child to be obese, then I think most of the blame should lie on the parents and they must be educated, so that they can educate their child. Get rid of the computers and t.v's in every room in the house, get them involved with chores, make them walk to the mall and back again, don't buy chips and cookies everytime you go to the supermarket, you get my point? There are resources out there to help the parent to help the child.
  69. Brian Chittock from Vancouver, Canada writes: It never ceases to amaze me how adults are always so concerned about childhood obesity and see it as a food problem! It is important to understand that all of our bodies are different. Different metabolism, different sizes, different weights. If children and adults are eating healthy meals and enough exersize, so called "fat" kids are actually quite healthy. We adults have to change our mindset around body size and embrace health at every size. This continual insistance on controlling kids weight is not helping the situation, it is creating more unhealthy kids. It is time to stop this insanity. Disordered Eating and other weight disturbance issues such as obesity are becoming epidemic but it can be traced back to adults who talk about unhealthy habits around our children such as dieting, obesity, skininess, that are really the rout cause of this. Not to mention what the media, fashion and diet industry is doing to our kids. We do not have an obesity problem in this country, nor and eating disorder problem. We have a poor self-esteem and unhealthy body image problem in our kids caused bye the media, fashion industry, diet corporations, pharmaceutical companies and adults. Stop blaming the kids and trans fat acids!
  70. Sandra Pratt from Orangeville, Canada writes: I can understand the growing problem with children these days and I have to say I think that it is a large part of the liives parents have created for their own children. Parents who are running home from working, after a lengthly commute, rushing to make something- not necessarily healthy for their kids and do homework and bedtime all between 6:30-8:30. Everything is rushed and there is no time taken to what kids are doing, let alone what they are eating. One child I know is left to fend for himself at the age of 10 from 7am, getting himself breakfast before school and then til 6:30pm afterschool, snacking on everything he can get his hands on. Especially what's in a can and typically after all that his mother will simply bring home fast food of some sort! After shcool activies are pretty much vanished from our public schools because teachers are under paid and under valued. Do most dual working parents have time and/or money for extra curricular activies? No! They barley have time to pick their kids up from daycare and get home to bed. The price for being "on the go" parents is no one is raising the children and obesity is just ONE of the many side effects. Stay at home, talk to your kids, know what they are doing and make money later.
  71. Natalie Colafranceschi from Toronto, Canada writes: Plain and simple it all comes down to what parents are allowing their children to eat. When I was growing up McDonalds was a rare treat but nowadays its a quick fix to keep your child from having a temper tantrum. How often do you see a child having a fit in the mall and the parent buys them the candy they want just to keep them quiet! Lets face it, if you grow up eating fatty foods then thats what you're use to and you have no one to blame but the people who are giving them to you. Let me say this loud and clear....STOP GIVING IN TO YOUR CHILDRENS TANTRUMS AND STOP LOOKING FOR THE EASY WAY OUT!
    And what happened to the days that our parents use to have to call us 10 times before we would actually come in for dinner because we were havving so much fun playing outside. There was no Playstation or X-Box that kept us glued to the t.v. Exercise never use to be a problem for kids because kids use to naturally be active. Now there are signs at gyms about ways to keep your children active!!!! Take a walk with your kids, but some rollerblades or just go for a bikeride. The main point here - keep them active!!!!