Fat Kids Piss Me Off
Seeing fat kids really pisses me off, and it has nothing to do with the kids. I'm not talking about kids that haven't lost their baby fat yet. I'm talking about obese kids that need to stop eating so much. But I can’t be mad at them, because they don’t go grocery shopping, or cook their own meals. Nor can they be expected to know the risks of unhealthy eating. No, when I see fat kids, I shake my head in disgust at the parents.
By allowing a child to eat whatever they want and not exercise, the parents are subjecting them to teasing, reproach in the eyes of society, and most importantly, countless health risks (Diabetes, future heart disease, a life of obesity, etc.). By the time they get older and know enough to change, it could be too late. There are countless, well-documented, statistics that tell us fat kids turn into fat adults, get diabetes more often, and have more health problems in general throughout their lives. Subjecting them to those consequences is not fair and, in my opinion, should be considered neglect.
As a parent, it’s your responsibility to have the best interests of your child in mind at all times. If you make the conscious choice to be unhealthy, that’s on you. You know the benefits and risks, and can choose to ignore them if you want. But children don’t know enough to make that choice for themselves. For the same reason they cannot be held responsible for things in court, they cannot be held responsible for their health. That’s part of a parent’s job.
I know some people will make the point that healthy food can be more expensive, and thus harder to provide on a budget. That's true, but eating healthy for less isn't impossible; it just takes more effort. And of course there are certain exceptions in terms of health conditions that cause weight gain regardless of nutrition. But in all other cases, parents need to stop letting their kids run to the refrigerator whenever they feel like it, sit in front of the TV all day, and have access to an endless buffet of sweets, fast food, and sodas. My message to parents: Good for you if you want to be unhealthy, but desire better for your kids.
55 Comments:
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Thank you! possibly the best blog i've seen yet... The word NO!!! needs to be used more by parents.
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I love 'em. They're delicious! Oh wait a minute. You said fat kids, I thought you said fat pigs. Makes a lot more sense now.
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Lifestyles these days are totally different. My mother didn't have to work, so we always had good healthy meals cooked for us. Now, both parents work and meals are from fast food places and the kids don't exercise. Video games and computers have made this generation too sedentary. As kids, we got out and ran around, walked for miles, rode bikes and got plenty of exercise. Also, we had mandatory P.E. in school. Parents are part of the problem, but it's society as a whole now. The government needs to make P.E. mandatory in schools and get these kids active.
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i totally agree. good points.
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The school district I live in requires PE every other day. They also seem to provide decent lunches, nothing is fried, they offer salads, fresh fruit, etc.
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At least the government is working on getting fried and fatty foods out of the schools. It's a good start.
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I thought they were just "big boned?"
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They are big bones, there's just a lot of fat hanging off of them.
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I understand your complaint but for someone that has been so open about her bad choices as an adult I find it hypocritical to the extreme. Good decisions go for everyone. Just cause you didn't get caught for smoking weed, or have an accident doesn't mean you did right.
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i didn't say i did right because i've made millions of mistakes. but for the most part, my choices we bad for me, not someone i was obligated to protect by the laws of nature. protecting your kids is on a higher level than protecting yourself, or the lives of strangers, in my opinion. the well-being of kids should come before all else.
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Sure there are parents who could do a better job of guiding their kids, how do you think some end up in gangs, it's just as bad? But I don't think parents of fat kids need to be chastised by an athlete who thinks she knows it all. One of the problems in society today is too many people sticking their nose where it doesn't belong.
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ha. i don't think i know it all. far from it. but that doesn't mean i can't express my opinion on child obesity. i don't approve of gangs either, but this blog isn't about that. it's about the responsibility of parents to keep their kids healthy.
don't be so busy getting offended that you miss the point. -
I didn't miss the point, my point was that people can't go around sticking their nose in other peoples business all the time. And just because you fancy yourself so important doesn't make everything you say right. Outside of the sport your in and Yardbarker nobody even knows who you are.
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who cares if anyone knows who i am or not? most of the people on YB are people who are not famous yet they want a place to express their opinion. i don't consider myself famous. i'm just like everyone else on YB, trying to express my opinion on things i find important.
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OK, consider them expressed...there, feel better.
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keeping the body (and the soul) healthy is only a personal responsibility when one is old enough to understand and accept that responsibility. young kids can do neither.
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u are so right it is the parents responsibility
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I LIKE FRENCH FRIES
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My two sons eat the same foods. My oldest is thin, but not too skinny. My youngest who is always more active and energetic is a little plump. He's not fat, but he does have extra weight. As a parent, I cannot put my youngest on a special diet. People's bodies are different. Yes, some parents give their kids all kinds of junk to eat, but don't look at every kid that is overweight and blame the parents. My husband is a little stocky, definitely not overweight and my doc has complained that I should weigh more. We all basically eat the same things.
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Another thing, unless you're parent you cannot understand the way it feels when your children are upset because someone is picking on them or saying "they're fat - or stupid - or ugly". All children should be told they are beautiful. Remember, the outside is only a thin covering - it's what is inside that counts. The title of this article definitely pisses me off! I am not a racist, but you might as well write an article that black or white kids piss you off also!
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hockeygoddess - thanks for your response. the title was to get people to read it and generate a feeling. i was teased all the time growing up and i know how that feels. i'm not talking about people who are stocky, plump, or still have baby fat. there are people that may have called me chubby at times growing up, even though i was active. and one of my sisters is a different body type than me and my other sis. we were all made differently. i'm talking about those kids who are obese. who have huge stomachs and fat everywhere else because of eating too much. to me, that is wrong. not that my opinion is the end-all-be-all of opinions, but that's what i think.
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True, most obese children are probably the result of parents' irresponsibility. However, they should not be made fun of because of it. I was picked on as a child, not because of my weight (other issues), but it didn't bother me as much as seeing my child being picked on. I try to teach my kids to not judge a person by their looks, and it seems to be working because when I meet their friends, they are very nice kids but they do not seem to be the most popular or athletic in school.
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i'm not saying kids should be picked on. i was and i know its painful. this wasn't directed at the kids.
nor am i saying parents should make their child feel bad about their bodies and force them into anorexia and other bi-products of low self-esteem.
i just want parents to take responsibility and stop taking their children to mcdonalds every time they ask for it so they can be healthy. that's it. -
I will agree that parents today suck and are lazy. I constantly see horrible parenting and I want to go up and correct them for being crappy parents. People forget that they are the parents AND ARE IN CHARGE and they let their kids control their lives! The kids don't have a choice, make them eat their d*mn veggies, don't let them whine and cry their way out of it! Step up moms and dads of the world! Get off your lazy arses and cook a good meal for your family! My wife and I both work long hours, but we make it work! Don't hand me the work excuses! Structure and discipline people, have some of it. Turn off your stuipid reality TV shows and read with your child, play a board game, do something other than being a lazy waste. GRRR. And quit letting your kids watch innapproriate TV and movies! Six year olds shouldn't watch CSI and if they are up that late it is past their bed times. Stop letting them listen to innappropriate music while you are at it. America - Soon to be the land of the fat lazy moochers. Go earn your own way and give me back my taxes too!!! Okay, I feel slightly better now. This wasn't pointed at anyone in particular........phew....
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lol. your post made me laugh, but i totally agree with you. my parents were extremely busy and found the time to regulate what i ate, watched, and did. when i was old enough to make my own decisions, they allowed me to. that way, when i messed up - which i frequently did - it was my own fault.
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At home, under my watch, my kids eat all organic fruits, vegetables, no trans fats, lots of superfoods, etc. At day care I don't know what they eat but I've seen donuts and other things that make me cringe.
The parents of fat kids ruin it for responsible ppl like me because it is impossible to stop kids from eating crap when they leave your jurisdiction. -
i feed my kids sh!t on a stick and tell them its a shiskabob
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Wanna cookie monster???
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why not
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(Right on Jaymz!) Chantell, your piece here is Spot On. And you are entitled to your opinion: As an American Citizen, your future tax dollars will be helping to fund the Health Care these Fat Kidz will be needing, sooner than later. Yes, there a *few* exceptions to why a kid might be obese, but the overwhelming majority are the result of weak parenting.
I recently saw a news story (national news, no less) on ABC about the government's attempt to get cereal manufacturers to tone down their marketing to little kids. WTF?? Why can't responsible parents simply say, "NO, you will NOT have Cap'n Sugar Shit!"??? That removal of focus-responsibility-liability from parent to government says it all! -
you are so right. saying, "i want my child to have it better than i did," should not only include material things but other important ingredients as well. what about the chance to be teased less than you were as a child? or the chance to be healthier that you are? or more active? all those things count too. great post wheelman.
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LMBO and SMH for the title...But a lot of the time its not just the food..because kids don't play like the used to because of Playstations, XBoxes, and internet games. Back when I was growing up as soon as I finished my homework(gradeschool) I was outside running up and down playing hide n go seek, and tag...done with both boys and more importantly girls...8-)...The food isn't all that healthy but the playing, I believe is a very important part. I am not sure if this is reason but the NFL has started a program that tells parents to let their kids play and the NBA I believe has started a program for the same thing. So kids just need to be out there running around with the heads cut off and yelled at to come back in the house. I don't see that happening like it used back when I was growing up.. I don't think I ate the most healthy meals growing up as well.
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hey! it's been awhile. how are you?
yes, the level of activity has a lot to do with it. in my opinion, parents need to tell their kids to get up from in front of the tv and do something too! lol. -
I agree with everything you say but also want to add that eating healthy should be part of the budget. Period. If you have a choice of 300+ channels on your tv or buying healthy food there shouldn't be a question of what you are going to eat. Our society needs to get their priorities in place. If you can't afford to put healthy food on the table for your kids, then get rid of the cable, get rid of the plasma screen tv, get rid of the designer clothes and shoes. You get one body for your lifetime, everything else is indispensible.
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Kids follow what their parents do and not always what their parents say. (http://2009tax.org) Outside activity for a couple hours every night after school is very important.
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