I recently turned in a paper for my sociology class on a social deviant. My topic was obesity. The best/most interesting source I had was a book cleverly titled Generation Extra Large: Rescuing our children from the epidemic of obesity.
Epidemic. I don't think obesity deserves to be labeled as an epidemic because I do not think obese children are as helpless as a victim of a legitimate epidemic such as the AIDS virus. But upon further review I found the term appropriate because while it is a bit melodramatic to view the chubby kid that cant quite fit down the slide at the playground as a victim of an epidemic, epidemic is a strong illustration that adresses just how wide-spread this sereious issue is.
The book made me realize my view on the obesity of children in our country had been a little harsh. To me, it seemed the obvious solution would be to eat a little less and go play outside like children in past generations. I was blaming the poor diet and lack of physical activity on media or the children themselves but there countless culprits in this crime against healthy living.
Children today have more obstacles on their path to good health than any previous generation. Today American kids are growing up in a country whose cash strapped public schools are: 1) profiting by vending cokes and junk food 2) cutting PE in a "misguided attempt" to save money 3) doing away with recess to supposedly raise test scores, but actually just raising chances of becoming a type 2 diabetic 4) serving greasy unhealthy food in cafeteria because it is easier and cheaper to prepare.
Every person in our society need to own and be responsible to help guide children down the straight and narrow to healthy lives because Ronald McDonald is not soley to blame for obesity. Children are growing up in a culture, that as a whole, enables obesity.
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I really like how you dissected the term "epidemic" and concluded that it is a misnomer. Like you said, the word "epidemic" describes a helpless victim who has fallen ill to an incurable something or other, or has fallen ill with something curable, but with permanent disastrous effects, i.e. the polio epidemic. Childhood obesity, and obesity in general are preventable and curable. In other words, once a person has been determined "obese" it is not permanent. It's a condition that can be remedied and reversed. The media dubs it an "epidemic" to build fear so the the public will fall into a trap of believing that anyone who achieves obesity is done for. As you stated above, all this is untrue and misleading.
ReplyDeleteOf course, epidemic also refers to the "wide-spread" and radiply spreading nature of a disease. If only 6 people in a community get polio, it is not an epidemic. If 600 people get polio, it quickly becomes an epidemic. I think we tend to overuse the word, but clearly as one looks at the statistics on the "growth" of obesity among children and teenagers (incidence more than doubled since 1980), one would have to conclude that epidemic fits the situation.
ReplyDeleteI found especialy interesting the ideas related to the role schools might play in this problem. By cutting p.e. and allowing vending machines and serving poor lunches, schools may actually be the primary culprit. That's a lot of seat time for growing children, coupled with a lot of empty calories. Since no one wants to have increased taxes to pay for schools, school districts start looking elsewhere for money. We might want to explore this topic further.
What you stated was very well said.
ReplyDeleteI believe children are tempted by the media into fattening hamburger happy meals, sugary cereals, etc.
BUT, I am a firm believer that to prevent obescity in a child, the parent must enstill in the child a sense for "eating healthy".
A parent can show a child that certain foods (fruits, veggies, etc) can be tasty. A child will always crave that bag of M&M's, but they still will appreciate fruits & veggies if a parent enstills healthy habits into them.
I like what you've said here Stacey. I agree wholeheartedly with you with one possible addition.
ReplyDeleteI do believe that the media certainly plays a role in the culture of unhealthy living that children are growing up in. I would agree with you that in no way is the media the primary target in which we should place our blame, but it is a contributing factor.
Along with the factors you mentioned (cutting PE classes, unhealthy school lunches, etc.), the media is doing a fine job of continually introducing children to unhealthy food options through advertisements.
When it comes down to it though, it is very much a parent's responsibility to instill values of a healthy lifestyle in their children as it is there right and within their ability to monitor the child's activity and eating habits.