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These are comments from members of Sparkpeople I decided to not put names in so not to cause any problems. These comments are terrific and really gives you a broad spectrum of the public....
I'm from the government and I'm here to help you. And that always works out SO well...... | 167 |
I have 2 children, 1 and 3 and they don't even know what the fast food logos are and I know that they are the exception Children tend to be the hearts of their parents; maybe in helping their kids they'll help themselves as well. Children have a natural tendency to want to learn so we should be teaching them the basics of food groups, hydration and portion sizes. My kids steal veggies off my plate and my 3 year old can open the fridge: everything that is her eye and height level are fruits and veggies. We need to start at home. | 166 |
I don't have any children at home but I do like the idea of our nations children eating better which is why I have been a supporter of Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution for awhile. He believes that every child in America has the right to fresh, nutritious school meals. He was the recipiant of the 2010 TED prize for the same reasons. Jamie is also organising a petition for Americans to sign which he hopes to be able to take to President Obama. The petition is hosted on the Food Revolution website @ http://www.jamieoliver.com/campaign s/jamies-food-revolution if anyone is interested in checking it out. | 165 |
Someone else suggested "Spark Family". I totally agree! My kids have created SparkKids profiles, but just try to get them to track their food! Since I do cook a lot from scratch, it means inputing a recipe multiple times. I think that was the major factor in both of them not being very interested in the site. | 164 |
In a single week our school serves chicken rings, chicken nuggets, pizza, taco boat and hamburgers. Dining out in restaurants the kids choices are chicken nuggets, pizza, quesadillas, and cheeseburgers. It's not a surprise that 1 in 5 children are overweight or obese. I find our family has to struggle outside the home to find healthy choices. It's certainly helped cut our dining out budget because we'd rather make our own healthy choices at home. But I was proud one night at a local italian restaurant when my 8 year old daughter asked if I'd split an extra side order of grilled veggies with her. Our own habits begin to form in their heads and they can't help but adopt them. | 163 |
A good way to help is simply to buy healthy foods. The more we buy healthy foods, the more they will be marketed to us. Plain yogurts, non-sweetened soy milk, bags of beans, nonfat milk, fresh veggies and fruit, bags of frozen veggies with no salt added, etc. The healthy foods will be ordered and placed on the shelves in more prominent locations as we buy them more often. Shopping at the restaurants that provide sufficient calorie information, such as Subway, will provide incentives to their competitors to follow in suit and offer handy calorie count information on location. | 162 |
It costs more money to eat healthy food than it does to eat junk food. It also takes hard work, planning and preparation to eat healthy; and it costs money to educate children, their parents, the schools, etc. (And, many vending companies have sweetheart deals with the schools that help to pay for school budgets - adding yet another cost burden to this problem). Spark People has figured out a way to provide FREE services to so many of us and it is incredibly valuable. I don't know how to replicate that to America's children and to build a bridge to Michelle Obama's initiative, but there must be a way to extend the genius behind SP to this very worthy cause. I am so delighted that you are thinking about this and are asking for suggestions. Keep asking, analyzing and thinking outside-the-box and I know you will find a way. | 161 |
I already gave this site to a friend of mine who's daughter is a little heavy and wants to lose weight the right way and she loves it. This is truely a wonderful way for kids of all ages to learn to eat right and lose weight the healthy way. | 160 |
This is great. I love the idea of having a Spark page for kids. I'm glad to see so many supporters. Let's all join in and continue to spread the word! | 159 |
I agree with several folks that I truly believe that it begins with the parents and what kind of example they lead and teach their children. I hope and pray that people actually use SP as a tool to help their families lead healthy lifestyles, children and adults. | 158 |
This is great. As a teacher I made teaching children about healthy foods and healthy choices, and how good food makes you feel good. As a mother I intend on advocating healthy school lunches when my son becomes school age. I'm so thankful I have sparkpeople- I know the healthy habits I've learned here will hugely influence my family. | 157 |
Rather ironical that on the same day I heard of the plan to conquer childhood obesity, I read about the many children in central Florida who are going hungry. What can be done? | 156 |
I think it's great that the First Lady is taking a strong interest in the country's children. I just hope that the interest is channeled in the most productive way. While schools need to be positive role models for our children by promoting healthy eating and exercise, it is what children do at home after school, on weekends, and through the summer that truly impacts their lifestyle. Giving students their recesses back at school, improving the healthy food choices, and promoting active, healthy lifestyles is all important to the overall health of our children. Most importantly, family education with websites like Spark People will be instrumental to moving this nation toward a healthy future. I don't think it can be legislated or dictated from the government, but rather has to come from the children, their families, and the local communities. | 155 |
This is wonderful that Michelle Obama is putting childhood obesity at the top of her list. It upsets me when I see adults, let alone children so overweight. We as parents are to ensure our children are safe and healthy and do all that we can to take care of their every need. When I see obese children I think that the parent(s) should be charged with child abuse. I know this sounds harsh but look at the complications obesity causes. There are medical and psychological issues to be dealt with. Education should be mandated before people should be allowed to conceive children. I think if we made everyone go through a parenting course before conceiving, we could prevent a lot of the problems that exist today. I totally support this program. | 154 |
I love the Obamas! Thanks Michelle. | 153 |
Go Michelle! I've always wondered, is it possible to track my whole families nutrition/excersise and see reports like I can for me? Like a SparkFamily kind of thing where you can enter all members of the family, or link friends together to get an overall view. For me I'm always wondering how much to give kids at certian stages in life. I love the tools on sparkpeople for that, but would love to do it at a glance and easier (like why enter in the same meal for 5 people?). Anyone have any tips on this? | 152 |
I think this is a great initiative. It's up to the parents to set a good example, and also to make sure there kids get outside and play instead of sitting in front of the TV or computer screen. I know my parents just assumed we were going to go out and play unless it was pouring rain or snowing hard. We were seldom watched TV and computers weren't around. I'm sure the active play kept me thin until I started college and got less active. | 151 |
I am so happy to see the First Lady take a stand on this issue. I wish we had some White House concern when my children were younger. Now that they are adults, like me, they are having issues with their weight and diet. To be THE Wealthiest Nation in the world, it's awful that we don't have a healthcare system designed in preventive care for all citizens regardless of their socio-economic backgrounds. What's even more tragic is that we have a system that allows millions to be without proper healthcare coverage including preventive and wellness programs. I hope that Mrs. Obama's initatives will start a trend that will change America's health culture. At least we are recognizing that our most valuable assets...our children...have our full attention on what they're eating, what's making them sick, and how they are exercising. | 150 |
This is great and long overdue. | 149 |
It has to be as easy to grab an apple as it is to grab a twinkie. That means legitimately healthy options (not Froot Loops with the "Smart Choice" label) have to be as readily available to kids at home, school and the market AND these foods must be affordable. People in the US have been proportionally decreasing the percentage of income spent on food for the past 20 years. But it is a very difficult change to ask them to spend the extra money on the healthy food when the average income is also decreasing when adjusted for inflation. Now we add the recession into the mix and spending more money on smarter options becomes an even larger hurtle to over come. This problem is not just in the home, but can be expended to include the overall situation in available options at the school and local markets. It's a tragedy that has gone over-looked for too long. My hope is that at least awareness is increased, but more importantly, from that increase comes significant forward momentum to solving the obesity epidemic. | 148 |
Very good news!! | 147 |
A much overdue and welcome initiative, and by investing in healthier bodies we promote healthier minds! | 146 |
It will take money. Money to put together everything and hold it together, money to buy the healthier foods and money to support those cooking and serving it. Schools and children in America seem to be less and less important to those in office. Maybe, just maybe the First Lady can help those who want to be helped. | 145 |
It is great news! Lets support her. | 144 |
While I agree that there are many overweight, inactive kids; I also have deep reservations about the means that the government will pursue to reach this worthy end. If you have concerns about privacy related to the Global War on Terrorism, shouldn't you also have deep reservations about government peering too closely into your kitchen? And having closely watched the debacle that is the CPSIA, where a poorly worded law was proposed to keep kids safe from lead in toys but left loopholes for the major manufacturers while creating testing burdens so heavy that many small businesses are cutting product lines or closing shop (even though the small companies weren't the source of problems in the first place). The changes need to come from families and communities. Remember when kids played outside all summer? Remember when neighborhoods had sidewalks? Remember when you could play on the playground at recess? I'm all in favor of those sorts of changes. But I cringe at the idea of the government inspecting lunch bags. | 143 |
I think its a great program if it will work I see obese kids all day and teh parents are the fault with it I'm a cashier and yesterday a mother with her kids came and checked out $130 worth of candy ice cream cakes and cookies and nothing else but junk foood with her food stamps I son't see it really going to work with people like that. | 142 |
During the National School Lunch Week (beginning of November) I had lunch with my kids at their schools. I have to say that I cook much better and even McDonald's has better nutrition choices than the kids eat in school. I am just so disappointed with that. The schools don't allow cupcakes for Birthdays or other Parties but then they give the kids meals that aren't any better than the snacks we wish we could bring in. All my kids are under the obesity rate. They are active and love to be outdoors. One of the kids doctor actually told me that my son was too skinny and I should give him "fattening" foods like sodas, fries etc. Needless to say he is not the pediatrician of my kids anymore..... | 141 |
First, I just love Michelle Obama. The more I hear her, and read about her, the more I believe she's the "real deal" Lots of people here have written that this is too difficult of a problem to tackle. To that I say, remember where we were as a nation just a few years ago with smoking. Mrs. Obama has it right, get them when they are young. Kids may just teach their parents and other adults in their lives a thing or two. Lastly, she can not do this alone. As a nation we have tackled some pretty difficult challenges. Who says we can't solve this problem too? Lets MOVE!! :-) | 140 |
It is so refreshing to see an important issue like this on the radar of our politicians that doesn't have to be partisan! Support this issue because it's the right thing to do not because it is or isn't initiated by the political party of your choice! It may need tweaking, but it's a start in the right direction! | 139 |
Stay positive and Let's Move. If it's you move, if it's your family members move, neighbors and co-worker move. It's healthy. Go First Lady!! | 138 |
Having worked in an urban high school, I am not surprise that childhood obesity is such a big problem. Perhaps I'm glad it's not worse then stated considering what I've seen served during lunches. This is a major community issue and one that all sectors in our communities have to participate and make a commitment to work on together. First, the lunches served in school need to improve greatly and offer better healthier choices. If over process foods is a problem why do schools continue to serve such items? How about serving appetizing salads that look fresh and not some anemic specimen. Serving whole grains, whole foods that can help students who have ADHD. There was a time before funding cuts and teaching to the tests, that schools had Home Economics and learned to cook meals. I think this would be a great thing to bring back to schools. We can teach kids to cook healthier, the ABCs of nutrition and eating on a budget. These programs works. I ran a group during the summer in which we paired up with another program that provided local chefs to teach the students to cook. Not only did they bring healthy nutritious recipes but each student was given the raw ingredients to take home and cook for their families. They had a field trip to a farmers market and the local grocery store and we taught how to shop for fresh produce and how to read lables. A year later, some of the students were taking "risks" trying out new recipes and sharing it with their friends. It was exciting to see the small changes in their behavior. Awareness is needed but we need education. Bring back good health and nutrition education to the schools. While we're at it, bring the same education to the parents. Invite them to school for a dinner prepared by their kids. We can't change everyone but an ounce of education and showing how easy it is might go a long way into developing good habits. | 137 |
It doesn't matter whose fault it is or was. Whether you have children or not, whether you have obese children or not, whether your child never drinks soda or always drinks soda- you (yes, you) can make a difference in the health of our nation. Don't worry about where the blame lies or what the culprit is. Change yourself first. Then call, write or email your legislators and your school officials and the local businesses and anyone else you can think of. Tell them you are interested in seeing healthier food options in schools and business cafeterias (at least in our state, the cafeteria options for state workers are deplorable!), no soda/junk food/vending machines in schools, more recess, more PE, volunteer to lead an after-school edible gardening club at your local school, if you are a business owner or a member of a local athletic group (Road Runners, a triathlon training team, a gym) sponsor a school "healthy kids challenge" (google the Sports Backers Healthy Kids Challenge where participating students agree to run 26 miles over the course of the challenge & can run their last mile at the annual Ukrops 10K Kids Mile), get your workplace to put together a team for a local race event & invite families to participate. Be creative. Be responsible- even if it's not immediately your problem, be part of the solution. | 136 |
The healthier children and adults we have in this country , the less taxes spend on caring for them. Koodos to Michelle! | 132 |
As great as all of this is, I have some other thoughts as well. How about returning Gym class and recess to our schools? How about making our parks and our neighborhoods safer for children to play in? It should not be up to our government to do this. Each one of us as a individual and as a member of our communities and our neighborhoods need to stand up and say enough is enough! MAke it safe and exciting for our kids to be outside playing and doing things. Take away the COmputers, the TV, the IPods, the MP3 players and so on, or at the very least make time with those things very limited. YES IT WILL BE TOUGH! It is also up to US as adults and parents to decide what our children eat. Don't buy the junk food, the soda, the candy etc. If you do make sure your child (ren) understand that it is a special treat,
While on the surface these programs look good and sound great, what is missing is the underlying cause of the issue. There isn't a hardcore look at child poverty, poor health, differences in classes and incomes, inner city to subrubs, farms that are packing up because there isn't the money and being foreclosed upon and forced migrations to cities simply to find work. There isn't a hardcore look at outsourcing jobs to other cheaper 3rd world countries and creating in its wake, low employment opportunities in the core country. There isn't a hardcore look at gender issues, inequality with pay, racism, living on reserve vs living off reserve (in terms of quality of life). There isn't a hardcore look at social issues that have brought this change about. There isn't a hardcore look at the changes that have occurred over the past 3 decades and what is occuring to create the changes. Its fine to say 'we will focus on children and make them healthy and thin', however, without a long term solution to the underlying issues, its all smoke'n'mirrors. (and yes Canada is dealing with these issues too) | 135 |
i'm hoping that school lunches change. i work in a school and oh MAN, the lunch is terrible. tacos and fries is not a well balanced meal! | 134 |
this is awesome! I think Michelle Obama is a beautiful, intelligent woman setting a very good example for moms (and moms to be) nationwide. I'm so glad that stamping out childhood obesity has been given such a broad, public spotlight. I would be very glad to help out in anyway possible. I'm behind her initiative! | 133 |
not a routine food in the house. Go outside and play with your children, don't watch from the doorway! We can turn this epidemic around and it starts with one very important person...ME. (Yes you!) 131
This is great. American's in general tend to overeat. We all need to learn to eat healthy & starting early is the best way. President Clinton also has a plan, saw him on Rachel Ray. We need to do this for our youngster's health. | 130 | ||
I would love to see this from SparkPeople: 1. You have SparkPeople.com and SparkTeens.com. Why not make a SparkKids.com? It could be similar to www.millsberry.com , only do a lot more teaching about health, exercise and truly healthy foods! 2. Find a way to connect SparkPeople with SparkTeens. I could motivate my teens to use SparkTeens much better if I could connect their accounts with my account. 3. Work with legislation to take pop and junk food out of vending machines at school! And, of course, less fattening hot lunches. Fried foods are not necessary! | 128 | ||
If the number of children on "free"/reduced school lunches is increasing, what does it say about our society? It says we would rather have someone else take care of us, like we are children all over again. Haven't you heard: there's no such thing as a free lunch and reduced lunches are paid out of tax payers' pockets. Shouldn't we be focusing on fixing our society so that there are less children being born into households where there isn't enough to go around? If you chose to have children, be prepared to take care of them or don't have them at all! | 127 | ||
As I finished reading this blog, one onf the questions caught my attention--"have you had childhood obesity touch your life?" Quite frankly, yes it has and still does. As a child I was never small, but during my pre-teen years my mother was sent to Saudi Arabia to fight in Desert Storm/Shield. While she was gone I didn't eat (for reasons I'd rather not go into). When my mom came home on emergency leave she was heartbroken because I had lost 40 pounds in 4 months. She sent me to live with my grandparents, whom I love dearly, but their reaction was a an old school southern favorite--"feed the child." So I ate, and ate, and ate, and ate, and--well you get the picture. I ate breakfast at home, went to school and ate breakfast again, ate a full school lunch and would purchase an extra portion of food, I would eat a snack when while doing my homework, eat two helpings of dinner and maybe another snack before bedtime. I continued eating this way for six months. During that time I gained over 80 pounds. So at the age of 13 I weighed about 200 pounds and was only 5' 3". For almost two decades after that, I suffered and fought with my weight and watched it get higher and higher. Now at 31, I have diabetes, high blood pressure, and gout. I had a maximum weight of 330 pounds and although I'm down to 285, I've still got a long way to go. It all goes back to that year in my life and I've been paying for it every since. As a result, I work extra hard to keep the same thing from happening to my daughter. I made sure that from birth she ate healthy foods, limited junk food, and she ate healthy portion sizes. It's working so far. I have an 8 year old that loves to drink water, eat fresh fruit and always finishes her vegetables. A couple of days ago, I asked her what she wanted for dinner. Her answer--"a salad"! I pray everyday that she continues with these good eating habits. | 126 | ||
everyone can tell parents what to prepare their children to eat, but the grocery stores will have to make it affordable to everyone.. junk food and processed foods are more affordable to some people and that is what they buy. also if Michelle Obama wants to get to the bottom of obesity she only needs to read the labels........ for HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP !!!!!!!!! It's not used in European countries and they have lower obesity rates. The U.S. rates went up when it was added to the foods here. The First Lady should start her own Lobbyist group to campaign against the food companies to remove it from our food products. I am glad however that she has joined in on President Bill Clintons fight against childhood obesity. | 125 | ||
I applaud the First Lady for bringing this serious health issue to the forefront and making it a priority. Obviously, healthy eating habits starts at home. I would also challenge the schools and the food industry to follow suit. | 124 | ||
I am excited about this intiative as a parent. While my two boys are at a healthy weight, it saddened me to a great extent seeing some of their friends at sport practices huffing and puffing and unable to enjoy playing their favorite sports. I think it will take the entire village to help out, but we are off to a great start:) | 123 | ||
Join the newly minted "Let's Move!" Sparkteam! http://www.sparkpeople.com/myspark/ groups_individual.asp?gid=40511 | 122 | ||
I am NOT a Michelle Obama fan at all. She has said things in the past that were real downers in my mind. HOWEVER, she is the second first lady to finally find a REAL CAUSE to campaign for....Mrs. Bush being the first with literacy, at least that I remember! But childhood obesity is so out of control, this is a DIRE need, far more than her husbands focus on chaning our health care! Our paper yesterday featured the effort of schools to remove JUNK food from schools, and for cafeterias to offer HEALTHY food. PROBLEM with all of this, is what these kids already are eating, and NOT willing to switch. I would have to say Michelle has her work cut out for her. This is one that is going to take MAJOR effort, and one we ALL need to work on together!!!! Let's help our kids get healthy! | 121 | ||
I was once one of those children that was plagued by childhood obesity. My mother being obsessed with diets and weight control put me on Weight Watchers when I was 10 years old. I soon learned that I ate when there was high stress in the family. I was put on blood pressure medicine at age 18. After my 1st marriage failed, I was placed on psychiatric medicine and gained more weight. By the time, I joined Sparkpeople I was at 314 but had gone much higher.
thank god for someone with some good sense. i saw a 82lb 4 year old on dr oz the other day that made me sick to my stomache. the mother said she just can't say no when her daughter wants high calorie snacks. this is child abuse with no excuse. i came from a eat eveything on your plate or die family and eat what i give you and shut up. although i suffered with being over weight all of my life i never inflicted this on my daughter in fact i did the opposite. when she was a baby i gave her watered down apple juice until she was five. she came home from the sitter's and said "mom why does aunt laura's apple juice taste so sweet? i loved it. i made most of her food and never forced her to eat anything . parents with obese children should be reported daily. given one warning to turn this around and if not report as child abuse. these children are innocent and can not speak for themse | 120 |
Connecting some dots.... I read an article in Time magazine (Why DNA isn't your destiny) about how overeating youth in Norway in the eighteen hundreds lived shorter lives and their children and children's children lived shorter lives. We need to address this issue because we are creating costs and heartache for future generations.
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It's really sad. I see small children all the time in the grocery store and their parents allow them to put junk in the cart. I know that we are an example for our children, but I think its great what Mrs Obama is doing because sometimes we can learn from our kids.
I would love to see more home ec classes in school. Also teaching the children gardening so they can see how to grow their own (fresh) foods. They also need to be more active in school (and home). Phys Ed is not what it used to be.
I think SP is doing a great job. Perhaps going into the schools show how Sparkpeople can help. Maybe having their own school spark site.
I would love to see more home ec classes in school. Also teaching the children gardening so they can see how to grow their own (fresh) foods. They also need to be more active in school (and home). Phys Ed is not what it used to be.
I think SP is doing a great job. Perhaps going into the schools show how Sparkpeople can help. Maybe having their own school spark site.
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It's marvelous to see Michelle finally campaigning on an issue. However, I would like not only to focus on childhood obesity, but all stages and ages of obesity. I think she chose childhood obesity because 'saving' the children would draw the most support. But let's not miss the picture here. Obese children tend to learn from their obese parents. So, if we are to foster a change in the eating habits of America, who should be the real target?
Furthermore, where do the obese parents learn their obese habits? From the food industry, which pours millions of dollars to advertise their products. "Beef, it's what's for dinner." "Got Milk?" "Nabisco's Snackwells" "Coca-Cola, it's the real thing" "McDonald's: ba ba ba ba ba, I'm Loving It"
Remember when pharmaceutical companies couldn't advertise on tv? Could you name a particular 'popular' medicine then? Now you can. "Zoloft" "Viagra" ect. What would happen if the government banned the food industries from advertising on the main mediums of communication?
This is what Michelle really, really should be campaigning towards. Otherwise good luck with the 'War on Childhood Obesity.'
Furthermore, where do the obese parents learn their obese habits? From the food industry, which pours millions of dollars to advertise their products. "Beef, it's what's for dinner." "Got Milk?" "Nabisco's Snackwells" "Coca-Cola, it's the real thing" "McDonald's: ba ba ba ba ba, I'm Loving It"
Remember when pharmaceutical companies couldn't advertise on tv? Could you name a particular 'popular' medicine then? Now you can. "Zoloft" "Viagra" ect. What would happen if the government banned the food industries from advertising on the main mediums of communication?
This is what Michelle really, really should be campaigning towards. Otherwise good luck with the 'War on Childhood Obesity.'
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NOW: I am one of those people who posted on their page about making healthy choices to better my sons life, and it is working! In fact although he is only 20 months old he already mimicks mommy's push-ups (finally full ones!), and copies other exercises. I plan to make it NATURAL for him! I have discussed with my parents raising him to make healthy habits, like a morning jog for example... Since sparkpeople gave me the motivation to take up jogging while I was 217 pounds, and I STILL love it! I NEVER thought I would be a jogger!!!! NOw at 176 pounds and 5foot9.75 I am jogging away, when weather permits (like a few days ago)... So me and my little guy are going to do a couch 2 5 k style jogging method as he grows up! I was running him around by a game of chase the other day! Im trynig ALREADY!!! And he LOVES my whole wheat spaghetti! You DO have to make it taste good! In fact he loves about everything I make! And he does want to eat what I eat, so I prefer not to feed him anything I wouldnt eat myself! I just feel guilty! I look at feeding my son healthy foods like giving him a medication that is preserving his life....
THEN:I know I was overweight as a child. By the time I was in elementary school I was dieting just like my mom. At about 11 I lost 30 pounds counting calories and exercising, and hit 200 pounds... So yes I was obese. It came from a family with plenty of good tasting foods, and a sugar cereal and fruit snack addiction! There were other things too. I rarely enjoyed Phys. ed. I was a "fat kid", and it effected the way I felt every day. When I got fed up I exercised and lost weight, but gained it back.. Like all of us here I am sure. My self esteem was horrible, and if I would have had a sparkpeople to help me learn the tools then I would have had a dramatically different adolescent and teen experience.
*Sparkpeople has effected my entire family. Even my mother and father are eating healthier foods, and my mom has started looking for foods that are whole grain! I love seeing foods that I would eat myself at there house. It is amazing how finally the effect begins to take... When there is resistance sometimes just leading by example is all you can do. When people are ready they take the steps themselves...
Thanks spark!
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I would like to see more emphasis put on cycling. As cities become more bicycling friendly, it not only encourages it as a means of transportation, cutting down on automobile use, but also supports adding exercise to our day in an organic way.
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Luckily, my daughter is doing the opposite of me and slimming down as she becomes a teenager. She was always a good eater, as they say, when she was a baby but didn't slow down. She couldn't tell when she was full. By 6 years old, she was definitely heavy. Now in middle school she's too busy socializing to eat much while she is there. I make sure she gets breakfast and a snack when we get home. She's not losing weight, but isn't gaining either and PE 5 days a week is helping too. I try to keep junk food out of the house. Luckily, she'll eat most anything, her favorites are asparagus, bell pepper, and even salad.
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Doesn't that picture of the First Lady make you want her beautiful, toned arms? Seeing her motivates me to improve my health and fitness. Let's hope others take her message to heart and make this entire country healthier!
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Our kids spend so much of their time away at school during the day. I believe that they should be required to have structured exercise daily, no matter the age of the child. When they get into the high schools, they are only required to take P.E. for one year, yet they offer so many bad food choices and allow off campus fast food. It should be across the board for everyone across America! Go Kids! Our future should look healthy, not obese and sluggish. America's processed food is killing our future and addicting us all. Sometimes it's hard to tell what's healthy or not by the packaging and at our restaurants it can be impossible. It does seem that low incomes tend to equal overweight families more often than not. The more affordable foods are processed foods that create the addictive circle. I don't know the answer, but support at home and schools combined would be a great starting point.
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Obesity isn't the only problem in America. I know from experience that the more you talk to obese teens and preteens, the more they eat. Lifestyles are to hectic these days. So many extra activities that kids are involved in, families rarely eat at home much less eat together. Grab something on the way from one activity to another.
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I'd love to see a SparkKids. My 9-year-old daughter is very healthy on the slim side and makes great food choices. We talk with her often about good choices vs. luxury choices and portion control. However, there is research to support the fact that children (especially daughters) of overweight mothers are more inclined to develop eating disorders, so we're very careful about how we phrase our discussions. She sees me and my success on SparkPeople and would love to have her own account, but as a kid she doesn't qualify and feels left out. SparkKids, as I imagine it, would be a fun site for kids to log on alongside their parents, and would focus on activity, fun, nutrition and so forth without putting too much emphasis on weight. Please, SP, we can do this!
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It's great that this is topic is in the limelight. However, most kids are obese b/c their parents facilitate it. They sit inside playing video games and watching TV rather than playing outside. That was not an option when I was growing up (70s/80s), and not something we even wanted to do. Staying in the house was a punishment, especially when our friends were outside having a great time. Parents need to take away the modern conveniences that have made us ALL lazy (cellphones, TVs in bedrooms, video games, personal computers, etc.) and make the kids get up and out of the house. The kids eat whatever they want whenever they want without asking. That also was not allowed. You had to ask and sometimes you were told no. Junk food wasn't on the grocery list. A candy bar, a bag of chips - those were luxuries. Now they're staples. The schools can make healthy choices available, but if the kids don't want them, they won't eat them. Thus, they create waste. As with most things in life, one's foundation is at home. If the parents are not enforcing/practicing healthy habits, there is no reasonable expectation that the children will do so.
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I think this is great (which they had done something when I was young & I did not have to go through this), but this will hopefully help a whole generation and a generation to come. Since I was always either overweight or obese, I made sure my children were not. They were never offered junk food, sodas or fast food unless it was a special occassion. I made sure they were all involved in sports at a very young age and thank goodness, all 3 are at perfectly healthy weights. I used to tell them if they eat this crap they would look like me and I would tell them the struggles I went through. It worked.
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I know that my obesity has affected my daughter so much. She is 7-1/2 and is crossing the line into obesity and it tears me up inside. I am hopeful that my journey will help her to over come this and get back to a healthy weight for her. I know it's mine & my husbands lifestyle that has affected her and I do not want her or our 2-1/2 year old son to continue on the same path as we have taken.
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I have been affected personally by childhood obesity, but it hurts to heart to hear this statistic. I think we as adults have to be good examples and we need to get out and volunteer for various activities that can keep kids moving.
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THIS IS LONG OVERDUE, I grew up homeless in England and I am certain my being overweight started then. My grandmother gave me a good breakfast , at school we had DINNER, not just lunch -meat potatoes and vegetables-lucky me. When i returned to my grandmothers house I got my second dinner of the day. Meat and potatoes again. What is wrong with this picture. NO-ONE ever questioned just what this four year old was eating all day long. WAY too much. I hope that when they begin this program they make sure that the kids understand too much food is not good for them. Kids go to school and they can all eat breakfasts most of them already had breakfast at home. They usually have money in their account for school meals and they can buy ice cream and so they do. By the end of the day they have already eaten way too much food for the inadequate amount of exercise they are getting. Schools and parents just have to get a handle on not only what the children are eating but teach them that too much food is not good for their health. Parents and teachers along with school nutritionists and administrators should have guide lines to follow. Yes this will be a tall order for the schools but since the children are there so much of their day that will be the best place to educate them to eat properly.
It used to be said too many kids were hungry and they could not learn. I am sure in this day and age, too many kids are tired because they get lethargic after too much food.
It used to be said too many kids were hungry and they could not learn. I am sure in this day and age, too many kids are tired because they get lethargic after too much food.
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I agree with healthy living. I agree that Parents and the community can support a more healthy environment for children outside of their homes by pushing for health education in schools and better school lunch programs. We the people can affect this change. I do not think having a government ran program is a solution. The less big government the better.
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Anything that moves children away from video games and on to physical activity is a good thing! Good job, Chris on jumping on board and seeing what Spark People can do to help the cause! Children are our future! :)
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I think it is great and way overdue. As the mother of 5, I know how hard it is to monitor diets all the time and chase them from being in front of the tv all day.
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its does;nt take a only parents to raise/educate a child ,its take both,so lets be realistic here,what first lady is doing is very right,as a wise parents forget about ur political deffrences am focus on ur child/children;s healthy future,because they are leaders of tomorror, & if they are healthy they will be wealthy.
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Interesting article in the paper yesterday about how a family of four that gets food stamps ($95/week) is able or not able to buy healthy foods. Direct tie in to all of our discussions about childhood obesity.
Having a nationwide initiative IS important. Just like we have all realized here on SP, we can't do it alone. Or perhaps, we really do not WANT to do it alone. We are here on SP because of the myriad of supports to help us ADULTS become what we want to become: healthy and fit adults. It would be a logical thing to realize that as a nation of adults, we have an ethical and moral responsibility to band together as a nation to help our children not become unhealthy and unfit adults. What an amazing adulthood they will all have if they start off healthy, remain healthy and get to old age healthy.
Having a nationwide initiative IS important. Just like we have all realized here on SP, we can't do it alone. Or perhaps, we really do not WANT to do it alone. We are here on SP because of the myriad of supports to help us ADULTS become what we want to become: healthy and fit adults. It would be a logical thing to realize that as a nation of adults, we have an ethical and moral responsibility to band together as a nation to help our children not become unhealthy and unfit adults. What an amazing adulthood they will all have if they start off healthy, remain healthy and get to old age healthy.
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I agree that it's up to the parents but children spend more than 8 hours a day at school. The food that kids are fed in schools is horrible. Many times it is process and fried. This is what the kids like but they eat it because that is their only option. I believe we need to start in schools to make sure they are serving food that are healthy for the kids. As a teacher students do not like the foods they are fed but many times their parents cannot afford to send lunch with them. This is what we need to look at first!!!
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Thanks Chris, for bringing this to our attention. I think there is plenty we can do on both personal and community support levels. Personally, we need to influence our children to eat healthily, stay fit and make taking care of their bodies part of their lifestyle. (just like we are doing!) Our schools are struggling to provide adequate space, teachers and classroom resources, much less afford healthy fresh foods. On one level, it would be wonderful to take Michele's example of the garden at the White House and plan one at each school--perhaps with community support. The food raised could be used to supplement cafeteria meals and educate children both ecologically and nutritionally. On another level, perhaps Spark teams could visit schools and discuss why we are so passionate about being fit and healthy. We all know the consequences of not being healthy on a very personal level. I don't look at this as a political issue--anything we can do for our future, our children, is a very worthwhile issue.
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There are so many issues involved in the obesity crisis. Schools are cutting physical education and arts classes that stimulate creativity in our children. Sports teams are not funded properly in schools due to lack of funds. Vending machines are everywhere because they offer "cheap" fuel to stuff in hungry (bored) mouths.
Yes, the foundation for sound eating habits starts at home, but as children begin to move out and away from the sheltering of the home environment, they have thousands of really bad options to choose from. A major portion of those bad options taste really good, and are habit forming.
The disease processes that are so prevelent in middle age start during our childhood years. It's a long, slow, and potentially deadly string of events that start with what we consumed during our childhood. The good news, by changing our eating and lifestyle habits, we can offset some of the worst medical conditions. This is where it takes the dedication and understanding of the involved family.
Yes, the foundation for sound eating habits starts at home, but as children begin to move out and away from the sheltering of the home environment, they have thousands of really bad options to choose from. A major portion of those bad options taste really good, and are habit forming.
The disease processes that are so prevelent in middle age start during our childhood years. It's a long, slow, and potentially deadly string of events that start with what we consumed during our childhood. The good news, by changing our eating and lifestyle habits, we can offset some of the worst medical conditions. This is where it takes the dedication and understanding of the involved family.
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I am so glad that Michelle Obama is addressing this issue. Yes our lifestyles have changed since I was a child. This sedentary lifestyle is not only affecting our children, but it has also affected us. The ease of getting fastfood rather than homemade has also affected us. We need to really become aware of this problem and do something about it.
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Talking about tearing up, this blog has made me tear up a bit here.
I have fallen in love with SparkPeople since the day it came into my life back in July. I've had my challenges and my triumphs; I've created transformation in several aspects. I've struggled to get my family fully onboard with me, but I continue to share articles and passages from The Spark whenever I have the opportunity. I also continue to stock our pantry and refrigerator with healthful foods; however, my hubby also continues to bring things like Girl Scout cookies and chips into the house. So as of right now, there has been SOME improvement in the eating habits of my children; however, it's not what I would like it to be. My son, in particular, needs to get healthier and it hurts me to see him wearing oversized shirts to cover up his belly. It hurts me to see his self-confidence be affected. So I will continue with my mission and I am thankful for people like you and the First Lady who are bringing issues like this to the forefront.
I have fallen in love with SparkPeople since the day it came into my life back in July. I've had my challenges and my triumphs; I've created transformation in several aspects. I've struggled to get my family fully onboard with me, but I continue to share articles and passages from The Spark whenever I have the opportunity. I also continue to stock our pantry and refrigerator with healthful foods; however, my hubby also continues to bring things like Girl Scout cookies and chips into the house. So as of right now, there has been SOME improvement in the eating habits of my children; however, it's not what I would like it to be. My son, in particular, needs to get healthier and it hurts me to see him wearing oversized shirts to cover up his belly. It hurts me to see his self-confidence be affected. So I will continue with my mission and I am thankful for people like you and the First Lady who are bringing issues like this to the forefront.
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After Michelle Obama's Let's Move campaign was announced yesterday, I saw an article in our local paper talking about Colorado. I'm proud to live in the state which has the lowest percentage of obese people. HOWEVER, the article stated that Colorado is 23rd out of 50 states in terms of child obesity - almost 1 out of every 4 children in Colorado is obese. I was shocked. Apparently we have not influenced our kids to live the same healthy lifestyle as their parents and other adults in the state.
After Michelle Obama's Let's Move campaign was announced yesterday, I saw an article in our local paper talking about Colorado. I'm proud to live in the state which has the lowest percentage of obese people. HOWEVER, the article stated that Colorado is 23rd out of 50 states in terms of child obesity - almost 1 out of every 4 children in Colorado is obese. I was shocked. Apparently we have not influenced our kids to live the same healthy lifestyle as their parents and other adults in the state.
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I love that childhood obesity is brought to the spotlight from First Lady Obama. Sometimes hearing how tragic obesity is from the top will help parents get motivated to help their children.
I do believe parents play a part in their children's eating habits. I had two boys and I tried to introduce new vegetables from time to time. One son wouldn't even try it; the other one would try it and decide if he liked it or not. They did not grow up eating alot of junk and fast foods; I did cook meals at home and pack lunches. They loved to play outside and was in various afterschool sports. They don't have a problem with obesity to this day.
Today's society is so accustomed to everything being instant, quick, and easy. Alot of single parent homes, and even 2 parent homes are working overtime. Life has become seditary with computers, television, and games like ninetendo.
We all need to get moving. I'm not sure what it will take, but we must keep trying to educate on all levels.
I give props to the Obama's. The administration that was handed over to them was extremely flawed. God help us all.
I do believe parents play a part in their children's eating habits. I had two boys and I tried to introduce new vegetables from time to time. One son wouldn't even try it; the other one would try it and decide if he liked it or not. They did not grow up eating alot of junk and fast foods; I did cook meals at home and pack lunches. They loved to play outside and was in various afterschool sports. They don't have a problem with obesity to this day.
Today's society is so accustomed to everything being instant, quick, and easy. Alot of single parent homes, and even 2 parent homes are working overtime. Life has become seditary with computers, television, and games like ninetendo.
We all need to get moving. I'm not sure what it will take, but we must keep trying to educate on all levels.
I give props to the Obama's. The administration that was handed over to them was extremely flawed. God help us all.
91
I think this is a very important initiative! I do not have any children yet but I have a niece and three nephews and I do try to help their parents teach them how to live a healthy lifestyle by participating in our family activites. My oldest sister got me into running and I think that since I am such an important influential person in my niece's life that I can pass the torch. Keep it up everyone and lets change these current numbers to a percentage that is much lower!
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Man's downfall started out with eating things God told him not to eat.
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All, I think some of your comments are well warranted and then some are not. Good nutrition begins in the home, however there are some families who for one reason or another cannot provide the guidance their children need. In this country we still have a poverty issue whereas the first good meal a child receives is in school. There are also households in which the parents or guardians are not in a position to make good sound decisions regarding nutrition and other factors involving the child due to abuse, drugs, alcoholism, etc.
The First Lady should be commended for taking a stand to end childhood obesity. I interact with children/youth who participate in track and field. It give me joy to see an overweight athlete attempt to run a race instead of just participating in field events. To me this is their attempt to try to improve their overall health. Let's stop complaining and get into action.
I'm one of the fortunate parents where my 3 children are not overweight because of their participation in sports. However, an injury can sideline anyone and if I continue to work on creating an environment which respects food and the importance of nutrition my next comment could be the complete opposite. In the meantime I will continue to work on improving my health by following the guidelines promoted by SparksPeople and Weight Watcherds.
Michelle I'm in your corner and I support your efforts.
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