Sign of our times… Overweight children on meds

[thebrick]

I find this very depressing. It also makes me angry. Many overweight children are now on medications for high BP, high cholesterol, diabetes, acid reflux. This was unheard of 20 years ago. My wife works at a large hospital. They now have obesity clinics, nutrition counseling, etc… FOR CHILDREN! She says you would be amazed on how stupid parents are about what they feed their kids or just sit by and let them eat.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/26/business/26kidmed.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

 

[j-bird]

yeah that is fucked up here. Overseas not an issue

 

[6.8SPC]

"Even so, some pharmaceutical companies are developing new versions, including flavored ones, of adult medications for children. "

Gives new meaning to the phrase "popping pills like candy".

 

[Jarconis]

this generation of kids growing up, that generation will be the first generation to actually lower the avg lifespan, even with todays medicines and medical procedures, sad.

 

[n8ia]

that is it I am moving to europe

 

[blackhole]

this generation of kids growing up, that generation will be the first generation to actually lower the avg lifespan, even with todays medicines and medical procedures, sad.

i have an interesting idea - at least it interests me. some may say i am ruthless for my thoughts but here goes:

all species since life began have evolved, adapted. all of us have heard of the survival of the fittest, or the 'strong' survive. what is meant by fit or strong specifically means those species which are best suited (adapted) for the particular environment in which they exist. quick example a 'furry' animal is much better suited to live in cold than a creature without fur. a wolf can exist in snow whereas an alligator cannot.

well humans have evolved an amazing adaption system - technology, it allows us to thrive everywhere. of course this wonderful technology also allows the 'weak' members of our species to live where they would normally have died. then these weak members reproduce, almost like a counter-evolutionary force.

perhaps mother nature in its infinite wisdom is responding to this abhorrent unnatural behavior. maybe the very technology that has allowed the weak members to live is now going to kill them off. like Jarconis said even with modern medicine these kids will live shorter life spans. it is because of technology that these overweight kids exist, they dont play, ride bicycles, engage in athletics. all they do is sit and play video games. the parents are either too uncaring or stupid to feed their kids correctly. then whenever one of these kids gets sick they dont make the LOGICAL conclusion thats its the result of crap nutrition and NO PHYSCIAL ACTIVITY WHATSOEVER, they just go get some medication to treat them.

looks like the technology that created the society in which we live is killing us off too

 

[Paul Bunyan]

It all starts with fat, lazy parents. Pumping their kids full of junk food and letting them play video games all day. All kids should be exercising daily whether it's at school or at home. Parents also need to learn how to cook and shop.

PB

 

[Chim Chim]

i have an interesting idea - at least it interests me. some may say i am ruthless for my thoughts but here goes:

all species since life began have evolved, adapted. all of us have heard of the survival of the fittest, or the 'strong' survive. what is meant by fit or strong specifically means those species which are best suited (adapted) for the particular environment in which they exist. quick example a 'furry' animal is much better suited to live in cold than a creature without fur. a wolf can exist in snow whereas an alligator cannot.

well humans have evolved an amazing adaption system - technology, it allows us to thrive everywhere. of course this wonderful technology also allows the 'weak' members of our species to live where they would normally have died. then these weak members reproduce, almost like a counter-evolutionary force.

perhaps mother nature in its infinite wisdom is responding to this abhorrent unnatural behavior. maybe the very technology that has allowed the weak members to live is now going to kill them off. like Jarconis said even with modern medicine these kids will live shorter life spans. it is because of technology that these overweight kids exist, they dont play, ride bicycles, engage in athletics. all they do is sit and play video games. the parents are either too uncaring or stupid to feed their kids correctly. then whenever one of these kids gets sick they dont make the LOGICAL conclusion thats its the result of crap nutrition and NO PHYSCIAL ACTIVITY WHATSOEVER, they just go get some medication to treat them.

looks like the technology that created the society in which we live is killing us off too

i would have to agree. too many people now-a-days have children without realizing the true amount of responsibility that raising a child is. You cannot blame the children, The parents have fail them..

 

[Fa Seeshus]

i have an interesting idea - at least it interests me. some may say i am ruthless for my thoughts but here goes:

all species since life began have evolved, adapted. all of us have heard of the survival of the fittest, or the 'strong' survive. what is meant by fit or strong specifically means those species which are best suited (adapted) for the particular environment in which they exist. quick example a 'furry' animal is much better suited to live in cold than a creature without fur. a wolf can exist in snow whereas an alligator cannot.

well humans have evolved an amazing adaption system - technology, it allows us to thrive everywhere. of course this wonderful technology also allows the 'weak' members of our species to live where they would normally have died. then these weak members reproduce, almost like a counter-evolutionary force.

perhaps mother nature in its infinite wisdom is responding to this abhorrent unnatural behavior. maybe the very technology that has allowed the weak members to live is now going to kill them off. like Jarconis said even with modern medicine these kids will live shorter life spans. it is because of technology that these overweight kids exist, they dont play, ride bicycles, engage in athletics. all they do is sit and play video games. the parents are either too uncaring or stupid to feed their kids correctly. then whenever one of these kids gets sick they dont make the LOGICAL conclusion thats its the result of crap nutrition and NO PHYSCIAL ACTIVITY WHATSOEVER, they just go get some medication to treat them.

looks like the technology that created the society in which we live is killing us off too

we need to harness mother nature by re-release all large predatory creatures from the zoos (i'm thinking mostly jungle cats). they will then preferentially eat the fat kids who cannot run away or climb trees.

 

[MR. BMJ]

I can't blame the obesity problem on just one factor, but I can honostly say that when they took Physcial Education out of the school system, then they did a HUGE mistake. It's funny, when we were in school (grade school years and Jr. High ages) sports were a huge thing for us to participate in and win, and NOT just WATCH. I was talking to my old PE teacher (who did lose her job obviously) a few years ago, and she was telling me that our track and field records during our era ill never be broke because not long after us kids just got lazy and less emphasis was put on activity.

I used to eat McDonalds and trash foods and junk foods galore just like any kid today, but we also were active outside running around the neighborhood and in school....not with our eyes on the TV or our thumbs on the Nintendo. I mean, we still had Nintendo's and ATari's and stuff in my generation of childhood, but we were still active. So I don't think McDonald's and fast food restaurants should get the total blame as they are getting in recent years. They were around before obesity even was at it's point today, so.....

I could write a HUGE post on this, it's something I work with everyday as a Nutritionist. It is the most upsetting thing ever working with overweight children with rotten teeth to add on most.

I remember having a discussion with Animal a few years back and he believed that the declining physical activity levels were the culprit as well. He used Eurpean countries as an example because some of their food can be just as bad as anywhere in the world, but people are walking everywhere. Made some sense I guess.

And man, i swear parents these days are turning their kids into manginas. Kids are turning into lazy, weak, pussiess these days in my opinion because the parents (not all ) are guiding them that direction. Most kids do not even go outside when it's only 90 degrees Man, we were outside riding our bikes, fighting, running around, building skateboard ramps, building forts, and just staying active no matter the condition....if it was raining, then we were outside playing in the mud!

Mike Miller just posted on my board that he was gonna have all 20 million of his kids outside digging holes in the yard for no reason just so that they do not turn into wussies...LOL!

My parents and other kid's parents during my time were no Rocket scientists either on knowing how to feed the most nutritious meals....heck, my mom worked at a candy and ice cream shop There are more tresources of info out today on what to eat than anytime in the past imo. It doesn't have to be hard....give your kid small meals throughout the day, if they look like their genetics are gonna be more on the susceptance of being obese, then cut the crap out a little more (sodas, juice, candy, etc). If they are on the thin side, geez, that is cake (not saying to not educate them correctly either). Regardless, get their butts off the couch and TV and make them move around. Get them into sports, go outside with them and play sports, and for god's sake....brush their damn teeth!!!

....sorry...rant!

BMJ

 

[rotty]

we need to harness mother nature by re-release all large predatory creatures from the zoos (i'm thinking mostly jungle cats). they will then preferentially eat the fat kids who cannot run away or climb trees.

I would like to see you out run a "jungle cat." You might out run a fat kid but you have no chance of out running a "jungle cat." I don't think climbing a tree would do you much good but you could go ahead and give it a try

 

[Nssca]

I find this very depressing. It also makes me angry. Many overweight children are now on medications for high BP, high cholesterol, diabetes, acid reflux. This was unheard of 20 years ago. My wife works at a large hospital. They now have obesity clinics, nutrition counseling, etc… FOR CHILDREN! She says you would be amazed on how stupid parents are about what they feed their kids or just sit by and let them eat.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/26/business/26kidmed.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

Well there are numerous reasons for fat kids..the first problem is kids only eat what their parents give them...hence fat parents = fat kids.

But there is a primary reason for the increase in over weight kids. The middle class is far poorer than 20 years ago.
For instance in 1965 the minimum wage was around $2,50 per hour, today its up to something like $7 and some change. The problem is the value of the dollar or lack there of.
Relatively speaking The minimum wage in 1965 to how much buying power the dollar had at the time, to today's value, by comparison...the minimum wage would/should be around $10.50 per hour today.
McDonald's are one of the few places that has not raised their prices since this recession started so it's cheaper to eat that shit then buy good wholesome food at the store. It cost more to eat healthy than to eat junk....now you see whats wrong with this picture.
And there are far more middle class going to local food pantries and local churches to get free food stuff its not just the people on welfare any more.

When my dad finished High school in 1960 he had a good job waiting on him at a local steel mill..those jobs aren't around any more.
Hundreds of thousands of people every year loose jobs that used to be factory or manufacturing, good wage earning jobs...those jobs have been shipped over seas, so people get a lower paying job at wal-mart or McDonald's...and the government takes those statistics and says LOOK 100,000 people found new jobs.... SEE...the economy is starting to show growth....PLEASE.
So sure when you have limited funds and have 2-3 kids to feed are you LAZY to go to McDonalds or are you just trying to feed a family on what little you make...trust me, nobody likes eating junk but when you dont have much of a choice...you do the best you can do. More people than you think are in this kind of situation now days.

 

[blackhole]

Well there are numerous reasons for fat kids..the first problem is kids only eat what their parents give them...hence fat parents = fat kids.

But there is a primary reason for the increase in over weight kids. The middle class is far poorer than 20 years ago.
For instance in 1965 the minimum wage was around $2,50 per hour, today its up to something like $7 and some change. The problem is the value of the dollar or lack there of.
Relatively speaking The minimum wage in 1965 to how much buying power the dollar had at the time, to today by comparison...the minimum wage would/should be around $10.50 per hour today.
McDonald's are one of the few places that has not raised their prices since this recession started so it's cheaper to eat that shit then buy good wholesome food at the store. It cost more to eat healthy than to eat junk....now you see whats wrong with this picture.
And there are far more middle class going to local food pantries to get free food stuff its not just the people on welfare any more.

When my dad finished High school in 1960 he had a good job waiting on him at a local steel mill..those jobs aren't around any more.
Hundreds of thousands of people every year loose jobs that used to be factory or manufacturing, good wage earning jobs...those jobs have been shipped over seas, so people get a lower paying job at wal-mart or McDonald's...and the government takes those statistics and says LOOK 100,000 people found new jobs.... SEE...the economy is starting to show growth....PLEASE.
So sure when you have limited funds and have 2-3 kids to feed are you LAZY to go to McDonalds or are you just trying to feed a family on what little you make...trust me, nobody likes eating junk but when you dont have much of a choice...you do the best you can do. More people than you think are in this kind of situation now days.

i must agree on all of the economic statements you made, except for how they influence people's choices of foods. you are stating that because of the general lack of money that is cheaper to buy mcdonalds than whole foods. BS!!!!!

$10 will easily buy 1 1/2 lbs of steak, several pounds of brown rice, and a 1/2 gallon of orange juice. while you may not all agree that the 3 foods i picked are the best meal out there, they certainly are better than any fast food crap. and $10 at mcdonalds will BARELY buy 2 value meals. and the meal i mentioned is sure to feed more people than 2 crappy value meals.
top round at $4.00/lb x 1.5 lbs = $6.00
2lbs brown rice at $2.00
1/2 gallon OJ with calcium at $2.00
total=$10.00

the problem is %100 laziness of the parents

of course getting kids to eat whole foods may be difficult and they might whine and beg for mcdonalds, but too bad. isnt that a parents job? to look out for the best interests of the child

 

[Fa Seeshus]

I would like to see you out run a "jungle cat." You might out run a fat kid but you have no chance of out running a "jungle cat." I don't think climbing a tree would do you much good but you could go ahead and give it a try

i just have to outrun the fat kid. the jungle cat will be too busy eating the fat kid to bother with me. the problem is when all the fat kids are eaten...

you're right. gonna need a slower animal... maybe mutant terrapins

 

[Nssca]

i must agree on all of the economic statements you made, except for how they influence people's choices of foods. you are stating that because of the general lack of money that is cheaper to buy mcdonalds than whole foods. BS!!!!!

$10 will easily buy 1 1/2 lbs of steak, several pounds of brown rice, and a 1/2 gallon of orange juice. while you may not all agree that the 3 foods i picked are the best meal out there, they certainly are better than any fast food crap. and $10 at mcdonalds will BARELY buy 2 value meals. and the meal i mentioned is sure to feed more people than 2 crappy value meals.
top round at $4.00/lb x 1.5 lbs = $6.00
2lbs brown rice at $2.00
1/2 gallon OJ with calcium at $2.00
total=$10.00

the problem is %100 laziness of the parents

of course getting kids to eat whole foods may be difficult and they might whine and beg for mcdonalds, but too bad. isnt that a parents job? to look out for the best interests of the child

You obviously don't have kids....Your thinking of eating for a bodybuilder...I'm sure you didn't eat nothing but hamburger and rice when you where a kid....
You can also buy 10 double cheese burgers for $10 at McDonald by the way.

Im sure your young...
Once you get out there you'll see how some people have to live. Not to mention far fewer families include a mother and a father.

The father cant get ahead, cause a third of his GROSS pay goes to child support and the mother cant get a head cause she has no time to go to school and better herself due to the fact she has to spend her free time with the kids and then... there is the need for her to find a sitter while she's at work...that alone takes near a third or more of her income..

so the child support doesn't really help at all...

Like I said, it's the lack of value of the dollar.

You really think people just got lazy over the last 20 years for now reason? If you think its because people are lazy then what caused this laziness all of the sudden?

I mean lets get real... people learn to be lazy from who...thier parents...but you said thier parents weren't lazy?
People now days work more jobs per person and more hours then ever in the history of this country...thats lazy?
Up until the 70's a family could live on one person's salary, Now it takes two people to even make ends meet...That's lazy?
Poor eating habits stem from lack of funds and working to many hours.

Moms not home all day any more like in generations past. She gets home from working all day the kids have been eating shit they feed them at public school
( these people think Ketchup is a vegetable by the way..why?? cause their budget is stressed..why?? lack of funds !!! ) or the sitter and come home to a mom who is worn out or there isn't enough time left in the evening to make a big meal every night.
Is just not so black and white as laziness.
Oh and one last thing next time your in a grocery store try to by a good meal that has no refined sugar or high fructose( like OJ has), refined flour/pasta or trans fat...it simply costs far more money to feed a family of four on $9-$10 an hour because $9-$10 doesn't buy much like in years past...you may not think so you may think its just being lazy but there are a few million parents out there that would be pissed if you called them lazy..the real world aint some show on MTV

 

[kfrost06]

It all starts with fat, lazy parents. Pumping their kids full of junk food and letting them play video games all day. All kids should be exercising daily whether it's at school or at home. Parents also need to learn how to cook and shop.

PB

Thats what I think to. Kids need to increase their physical activities. It seems instead of going out to play they get together and play video games and parents are to blame, IMO. There is going to be a huge drain on our health care system in the next 20-30 years from obesity.

 

[Nssca]

Thats what I think to. Kids need to increase their physical activities. It seems instead of going out to play they get together and play video games and parents are to blame, IMO. There is going to be a huge drain on our health care system in the next 20-30 years from obesity.

You bring up a good point about the US health care system. And your correct... Obesity causes more heart attacks, more colon cancer and diabetes (just to name a few diseases) than any other cause.
The problem with that isn't so much being fat as is the fact our health care system spends 10% of its total revenue on prevention/education and 90% on managing the sick and their problems...

It should be the other way around, but you see the institution of medicine doesn't want cures. The is no profit in cures, there are profits in treatments and therapies how ever.

So will our Us heath care system do much to prevent and educated the public regarding Obesity?

 

[Pekkerwood]

I agree with most points made but I feel there is a broader, bigger, deeper, picture to look at. You are fighting hundreds of thousands of years of adaptation and evolution. (10 thousand years or so for our "creationist" brothers.

Man did not have plentiful food, preservatives, and stainless steel refrigeration with french doors and icemaker. Your body adapted to eat what it could, store fat for the future, and SURVIVE. Those who put on weight easily were the kings of mankind capable of surviving famine and poor hunting and getting the best mating opportunities. Only in the last few hundred to two thousand years would these superior creatures be mocked. In the scheme of things, these kids are genetically superior to their leaner, higher metabolic rate friends and should be the ones bumping the cheerleaders etc.

They are so gifted, it is taking medications to reign them in. Remember, most things are cyclical, what is in today, lean bodies, organic foods, holistic medication, will not necessarily be what is in tomorrow (a few hundred or thousand years from now).

I have dropped from 265 to 248 recently, when I get down to 215 I will re-examine my position on the subject.

 

[tomuchgear]

i have to disagree some kids dont get lazy due to there parents, bieng lazy. they get lazy due to lack of involvment with there kids. i know a very hard working single mom who has a slack ass lazy kid. he would rather sit and watch tv or play video games than any thing else. little turd has a very fast metabolism so he is scrawny even though he eats like crap. his little brother is a little hefty but active. he picks on the little one for bieng a little chubby. i tell well at least when your bro is thirty he wont need a triple bypass. go eat another double quarter pounder from mcdonalds. parents that work to much dont pay enough attention. then the kids get lazy becouse to many things are handed to them. my kids ever get like that i will throw the tv in the trash. dont need it lol.