The Michigan Messenger - Latest Comments in U-M Report: Obesity replaces smoking as new No. 1 health concern for kids

Re: U-M Report: Obesity replaces smoking as new No. 1 health concern for kids

Minehaha Forman — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 07:48:07 -0000

Access to food Many parents without cars or without the money here in Detroit have a hard time getting fresh food. There are very few grocery stores in Detroit, and many are forced to shop and gas stations and liquor stores for food. Fresh fruit and veggies at the liquor store/gas station? I don't think so.

Re: U-M Report: Obesity replaces smoking as new No. 1 health concern for kids

LoRayne Apo-Joynt — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 04:29:58 -0000

Parents need resources and role models It's easy to say that parents need to be more responsible, but if parents don't see good role models when growing up and they live in urban food deserts, it's difficult for them to ensure their children eat right.

Schools are another source of education on health, including food, but when schools are impoverished, mismanaged or teaching too closely to NCLB, they cannot provide the additional health education support that kids and children need.

As a parent I'll also tell you that we've changed a lot as a culture; the mainstream media has amplified our fears about "stranger danger" to the point where many of us are afraid to let our kids out of our sight. They can't freely run outside and play like we used to do as kids for fear of violence.

Something has to give; it's not quite as simply as parents being more responsible. The entire "village" is going to have to re-evaluate how to raise our children so that they are healthy and safe.

Re: U-M Report: Obesity replaces smoking as new No. 1 health concern for kids

katkin — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 03:37:17 -0000

Stop pussyfooting around child obesity Parents need to face up to their responsibilities to feed their kids right and keep them healthy. And get kids to face up to the fact they're overweight! Heck, their self-esteem will be damaged more by weighing 300 pounds than by tactfully advising them to drop a few. This website has good advice:

http://www.supernann...