Are Parent Responsible For Child Obesity

By Expert Author: Matt Garrett

In the world today, obesity is on the rise. It is estimated that three quarters of the population are overweight to some degree or obese.

Among these startling numbers, half are children. With all of the fast food restaurants and pizza shops that have been opened within the past decade, it is no wonder that weight problems are on the rise.

When you stop and think about it, who is really to blame for childhood obesity? Many people are quick to blame the parents, and in some instance that is true.

When children are small, parents control every aspect of their life including their diet. They can provide healthy nutritional meals. As the child gets older, it gets difficult to control their diet whether it is because of school or going out with friends.

Ultimately, the responsibility of eating a healthy diet depends on the age of the child. Small children are easy to feed so to speak, however, as they get older and start to go out with their friends, you lose that control to a certain degree. You can instill in them the need for proper nutrition, however when it comes down to it, peer pressure will win out almost every time.

Although schools are supposed to provide healthy nutritional lunches, and many of them do, they also offer choices such as cheeseburgers, hot dogs, and fried chicken and fish. Snack machines filled with chips cakes, and candy also line the walls of the cafeteria's, as well as soda machines. Many children forego the healthy lunch that the school provides and spend their money in these machines.

When one is asked, who is to blame for childhood obesity, the obvious answer is society. Parents cannot watch their child twenty-four hours a day. It is impossible. The only thing that parents can do is to teach their children what a healthy diet consists of and hope that they will follow it.

Eliminating junk food from school cafeterias and changing the menus is a good start, however it cannot end there. Restrictions and laws need to be initiated and enforced. The fast food industry is a multi-billion dollar industry and will not conform easily.

Of course, fast food restaurants are not totally to blame for the rise in obesity in children, if you walk down the frozen food Isle of any supermarket, you will find hundreds of heat and eat meals that are loaded with calories, carbs, sodium, and fat. The convenience of these ready to eat meals has replaced the nutritional value of a homemade meal.

It ultimately falls upon the parents to provide healthy nutritional meals for their families when they sit down to evening dinner. What your children do outside of your home cannot be controlled. You can only teach them the consequences of what can happen if they do not eat a healthy diet.

Author: Matt Garrett

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matt_Garrett