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3 Ways Parents Can Use Michelle Obama’s Experience to Fight Child Obesity

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I grew up on a street with no sidewalks and we still played in the street and walked to school without incident. We'd just pay attention to when cars were coming. (There were crazy drivers even without cell phones back then too.) Consider allowing your children to become free-range children and they will be a whole lot less fat. It's time to put the boogeyman to rest about the outside world and have our kids go out and play in it instead of sitting at home and watching TV.

Emily of CA 1:34PM February 11, 2010

BMI is a helpful tool, but it is not accurate in many cases. According to the CDC BMI calculator, my 15 y.o. son is supposedly overweight, but he is not fat, he is not skinny either, he is very fit. He is involved year round in cross country, track, soccer, basketball & baseball. He loves milk, is allowed occasional sodas, rarely eats junk food, and does not overeat. I would call his frame size medium. Since infancy he has been "heavy", I mean heavy in the SOLID sense, not fat. When I was carrying him all the time I got major muscles in my arms. Maybe he has really dense bones that weigh a lot? He's muscular, but not like a body builder. So, I worry about BMI being the basis for determining a child being overweight or obese.

renny of CA 1:32PM February 11, 2010

It is not the job of the government or should it be to have to tell people that they need to change the way thier children eat.
Parents know but dont do it or they don't care and no matter how
much is said some will never change. Parents need to take charge. and i agree when it is all about money and what is popular and on t.v. it is hard for both the child and the parent.And who can afford to buy from the health food stores or shop's where they have the Best foods?? not a lot of people when they have to
feed a family. it is always easy to say great things when you do not have to worry about buying the best. Yes cut down on sweets and junk, but that is only a Small part of it.

sage of AR 1:27PM February 11, 2010

First America eats too much food. Food is not a competition where the biggest appetite wins. It is not a reward either. The average American can run more efficiently on less calories eaten now.
Second, America is too lazy. America's kids don't run, jump, ride bikes or especially work at home chores like cutting grass, washing floors. The greatest support to building a smart mind is building a strong body. American adults can improve their health from this very same notion.
Three, American businessmen running food companies continue to blast the American culture with media advertising and in-school high fructose foods. They're like drug peddlers. Making a few people wealthy is killing off our society. America needs to stop focusing on food, including PBS cooking shows. Also TV advertising needs to stop relying on food commerical revenue.
Four, America needs to get smarter about what is being done in America. Pay attention, learn and avoid the obvious attractions and serious challenges to poor health. America's biggest loser is not a fat guy dumping 100 pounds on TV, its a fat guy losing his life to obesity.

Al Kovacs, Ph.D. of MI 1:06PM February 11, 2010

Appreciate the thoughtful comments...this is an issue for our family, and the detailed suggestions are helpful.

R Roberts of MA 1:02PM February 11, 2010

It is your job in your life to teach your kid how to live. The government moves slowly, that is a good thing, it gives it a chance to feel its way through to what the people need. Nothing changes fast in a true democracy. However people with children today can all help today by making it their own priority to teach their own kids how they think they should live.

sebastian of CA 12:58PM February 11, 2010