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A rising concern is that parents are unaware and underestimating their children's weights, almost choosing to be ignorant to something that is a major issue their children. This video discusses the fact that parents are underestimating their children's weight, but not only the parents are doing this, but their teens are as well. The problem with this picture is that parents are teaching their children to overlook something that is negatively affecting their health, which in turn will further into their adult life. In the article “Childhood Obesity” Laura Stewart expands on the idea that parents do not want to say their child his overweight or obese, so they almost ignore that idea. Instead of trying to approach a health professional, they get offended or upset if someone says their child is obese. Stewart states, “Most parents will be unaware of the impact of obesity in childhood and adolescence and many parents may even be unaware that their own child is obese (Stewart 2011).” This can be due to parents not wanting to admit their child is obese, but much of that could be due to the guilt of it being their own fault that their child is unhealthy. Not many parents want to say that their child is unhealthy or pushing obesity, this is because kids aren’t “supposed” to be unhealthy.
A huge reason that parents also might “ignore” obesity in their child is because the thought is that they will lose the weight because they are just children right now. Parks and recreation had a factual article, “Documenting Obesity” that discussed the amount of children who are obese in America and how parents can be oblivious to children being overweight. The article states, “More disturbing were perceptions of child obesity: 84 percent of parents consider their children at healthy weight while research shows nearly one-third of children and teens as either obese or overweight.” Parents are unaware of the risks that their teens and children are at; they aren’t opening their eyes to a major health problem right in front of their face. This could be that many parents don’t want to believe that their own child is sick and needs medical attention for their weight or because the lifestyle they are used to is too difficult to change. Parents could be so used to feeing their children the same foods, and letting them eat in excess, but what happens when their kids stop growing? It is so important to be aware of a child’s health because they don’t understand the concept of too much sometimes. Stewart furthers on the idea of certain types of foods being the reason that children gain weight as well. This is also something that parents are unaware of. When children fall asleep eating food, it can be cute at first but letting them continue that habit turns into a serious problem for their later years of life. Another problem is when parents grab those “quick” meals that teach their children to eat poorly and not make their own foods.
References:
"Documenting Obesity." Parks & Recreation 45.8 (2010): 15. SPORTDiscus with Full Text. Web. 18 Oct. 2014. (EBSCO)
Stewart, Laura. "Childhood Obesity." Medicine 39.1 (2011): 42-44. Web. (PUBMED)
http://www.karenville.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/obesity-diseases.jpg
Video from ABC News
A huge reason that parents also might “ignore” obesity in their child is because the thought is that they will lose the weight because they are just children right now. Parks and recreation had a factual article, “Documenting Obesity” that discussed the amount of children who are obese in America and how parents can be oblivious to children being overweight. The article states, “More disturbing were perceptions of child obesity: 84 percent of parents consider their children at healthy weight while research shows nearly one-third of children and teens as either obese or overweight.” Parents are unaware of the risks that their teens and children are at; they aren’t opening their eyes to a major health problem right in front of their face. This could be that many parents don’t want to believe that their own child is sick and needs medical attention for their weight or because the lifestyle they are used to is too difficult to change. Parents could be so used to feeing their children the same foods, and letting them eat in excess, but what happens when their kids stop growing? It is so important to be aware of a child’s health because they don’t understand the concept of too much sometimes. Stewart furthers on the idea of certain types of foods being the reason that children gain weight as well. This is also something that parents are unaware of. When children fall asleep eating food, it can be cute at first but letting them continue that habit turns into a serious problem for their later years of life. Another problem is when parents grab those “quick” meals that teach their children to eat poorly and not make their own foods.
References:
"Documenting Obesity." Parks & Recreation 45.8 (2010): 15. SPORTDiscus with Full Text. Web. 18 Oct. 2014. (EBSCO)
Stewart, Laura. "Childhood Obesity." Medicine 39.1 (2011): 42-44. Web. (PUBMED)
http://www.karenville.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/obesity-diseases.jpg
Video from ABC News