Who Is Legally Responsible For Kid's Health?
A recent survey, published in the “Journal of the American Dietetic Association”, discovered some very disturbing things about kid’s eating habits. The study showed that many children, under the age of two years old, were eating the same basic diet as the average unhealthy teenager - soft drinks, candy and other junk foods like Big Macs, pizza, potato chips, cheese curls and cookies.
The researchers, from Tufts University School of Medicine, found that up to one third of the children didn’t eat a single healthy vegetable or piece of fruit. Of those who did eat vegetables, french fries were by far the most popular. Twenty percent ate french fries daily. (Can you really classify french fries as a vegetable?) Soft drinks were even being served in baby bottles to infants as young as seven months old. And how much exercise do you think these kids are getting sitting on the couch watching cartoons on TV?
It’s no wonder a high percentage of preschoolers are considered to be overweight – even obese. And, since food preferences are usually established between the ages of two and three, these statistics are only going to get much worse as the children grow older. These kids are on a very dangerous course. As much as 80 percent of heart disease and 90 percent of diabetes can be linked to unhealthy diet and lifestyle habits.
So, consider this scenario. What if, twenty or thirty years in the future, many of today’s kids because of eating habits established in childhood suffer from the effects of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, stroke and serious self-esteem issues? And what if they’re angry about this? And what if they all get together and press a class action law suit against their parents to cover the cost of their medical treatment? It sounds funny, but it’s not! It’s a real possibility. Somebody is going to have to take responsibility and you better believe it won’t be Uncle Sam or the fast food industry.
Parents need to step up to the plate and take responsibility for their children’s health, both for now and in the long run. They need to be better role models. They need to realize that they’re the ones setting up the guidelines for their children’s future health.
We have the opportunity to dramatically effect our family’s life-long approach to diet and exercise. Twenty years from now, I’m sure the children of today would greatly appreciate the good healthy habits we helped them develop in their childhood. After all, appreciation is much better than blame – or even a lawsuit!
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To subscribe to the Pregnancy Newsletter, just enter your email address in the subscribe box at the bottom of this page.
© Copyright Moss Greene. All Rights Reserved.
Note: The information contained on this website is not intended to take the place of medical advice. Any attempt to diagnose or treat a condition should come under the direction of a qualified practitioner.
The researchers, from Tufts University School of Medicine, found that up to one third of the children didn’t eat a single healthy vegetable or piece of fruit. Of those who did eat vegetables, french fries were by far the most popular. Twenty percent ate french fries daily. (Can you really classify french fries as a vegetable?) Soft drinks were even being served in baby bottles to infants as young as seven months old. And how much exercise do you think these kids are getting sitting on the couch watching cartoons on TV?
It’s no wonder a high percentage of preschoolers are considered to be overweight – even obese. And, since food preferences are usually established between the ages of two and three, these statistics are only going to get much worse as the children grow older. These kids are on a very dangerous course. As much as 80 percent of heart disease and 90 percent of diabetes can be linked to unhealthy diet and lifestyle habits.
So, consider this scenario. What if, twenty or thirty years in the future, many of today’s kids because of eating habits established in childhood suffer from the effects of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, stroke and serious self-esteem issues? And what if they’re angry about this? And what if they all get together and press a class action law suit against their parents to cover the cost of their medical treatment? It sounds funny, but it’s not! It’s a real possibility. Somebody is going to have to take responsibility and you better believe it won’t be Uncle Sam or the fast food industry.
Parents need to step up to the plate and take responsibility for their children’s health, both for now and in the long run. They need to be better role models. They need to realize that they’re the ones setting up the guidelines for their children’s future health.
We have the opportunity to dramatically effect our family’s life-long approach to diet and exercise. Twenty years from now, I’m sure the children of today would greatly appreciate the good healthy habits we helped them develop in their childhood. After all, appreciation is much better than blame – or even a lawsuit!
Articles you might also enjoy
Fact or Fiction: You Can Get Everything You Need From The Food You Eat
Seven Simple Steps To Get Your Kids To Eat Healthier
Am I Pregnant?
To subscribe to the Pregnancy Newsletter, just enter your email address in the subscribe box at the bottom of this page.
© Copyright Moss Greene. All Rights Reserved.
Note: The information contained on this website is not intended to take the place of medical advice. Any attempt to diagnose or treat a condition should come under the direction of a qualified practitioner.
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