- Corinne Finnie
- Okotoks
- Canada
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Whose responsibility is it to educate our young people on healthy eating, physical activity, and positive self esteem?
Many statistics indicate that the overall North American adult population is not only overweight, but the number of people with Type 2 Diabetes, heart disease, and depression is consistently rising. Now, we see children as young as 12 suffering with the same conditions. The World Health Organization has called this situation an "overnourishment" epidemic. Parents do not have the practical information to teach their children about nutrition, teachers have a full curriculum and limited resources to contribute, food manufacturers are focused on making margins and are willing to go only so far, Community Dieticians have limited time and resources - whose responsibility is it to make educating children about comprehensive wellness a priority?
manuel ruiz-echarri
I,m a paedatrician, pediatric endocrinologist. I work in Zaragoza, Spain, I lead groups of obese children and parents whith "niñ@s en movimiento" program. Do you know it? . I,m very impressed by interest of your question. I would like to know, if possible your method.
My best regards :
Manuel
Adam Burk 500+
Corinne notes some great research and there is other relevant findings as of late to the impact of environmental factors being at least as important if not more so than personal choices. Environmental factors include access to healthy food options such as fresh and appealing fruits and vegetables. It's also about safe places to be active outdoors and clean air.
Tao P 50+
Charles Alderson
Also, you cannot force the willing. That meaning if the young person wants to be healthy and the parents are bad at it, they will learn from others, and actively seek out demonstrations and information.
So instead of teaching people facts, or info. I think we should teach them curiosity and drive. If that is even possible.
George Briscoe
With this in mind the main theme involved in healthcare in the 21st century is 'responsibility', who is responsible for the deterioration of mass health issues such as these.
1) Legislation needs to be reconfigured concerning the fat, salt and sugar content within food - especially food aimed at children - the traffic light system used in Britain is a good start but there is much more to be done. As with the imagry on cigerette packets some form of verbal or imagry shock tactics could be employed to educated people are the dangers of overeating and the consuptions of high fat food stuffs.
2) All schools should be responcible for offering a healthy meal menu whcih should be advertised to parents in an appropriate way. For instance, inviting parents and children into school to cooking lessons/demonstations similar to that provided my Jamie Oliver. It is of grave importance that children understand where food comes from, how it is produced and what is added to it during its manufacture.
3) Simply, governments need to act to reduce the cost of fresh ingredients in supermarkets including making sure that farmers are given a fair deal in the production process. Far too few politicians have the gall to go up agaist the corporations that are profiting on the back on one of the worlds largest health dangers.
James Boyd
I can see how there are many different cause and effect elements in how people make their choices, both young and old... and each new generation initially find themselves reliant, on those who precede to provide example...
Diet is habitual, and as mentioned, wellness can be achieved through lifestyle choices. The issue in a modern world that demands so much of our attention, with the carrot of convenience and the stick of long work days, people have grown to see food as a fix rather than where it should be; at the apex of way of life, much like quality of sleep and clean drinking water. I for one can relate to being lazy with my diet at times.
Parents naturally have a responsibility to their children; and schools equally have an opportunity to educate children irrespective of what may be absent at home. Broadcasters can, and do, play a vital role in inspiring the young and old to make lifestyle changes. From experience I personally believe we can be thankful here in the UK whereupon for years the majority of family TV programmes have been broadcast over a mere handful of channels, which has enabled the funding and focus of quality public documentary programming to a broad domestic audience.
Most importantly, people themselves have a responsibility to effect habitual change in their own lives. The individual should lead themselves, follow examples of where they want to go, not where they have been. It is too easy to fall back into old habits right? We live in a free world so start by rejecting the unhealthy in favour of the healthy. We can also petition and mobilise into groups to effect local change at the heart of our communities.
Finally, it is clear that our retailers and their wholesale suppliers have a responsibility to position healthier foods before all others in terms of both visibility and pricing. It is possible for the public to vote for it as shareholders and as customers.
jay kline
Nina Gomes
João Coucelo 10+
Unfortunately in this capitalist neo-liberal world where money is almost the only grand motivation, may be the solution must come in that line. I mean the motivation that would change people behavior.
A solution where there are consequences besides the "far away" coming Diabetes, Cardiovascular, Self-esteem, etc.
Consequences where people being or having overweight/obese siblings, or not engaging in a non harmful life style (I don't even write a "healthy", but at least not harmful) have a chance and then if not compliant their pockets will be targeted (not popular I know that's why I started with "unfortunately").
Ideas:
A) If a child/worker is found to be overweight/obese the family living with the child/worker has to go through a two month teaching program where is taught how to engage in physical activity (doesn't mean gym or a sport), adequate eating (each family has its own culture and routines), psychological work;
B) Once these 2 months were successfully completed they would have to visit a local center monthly for 1 year;
C) After this year, there would be an analyses of the progresses made by each individual and the family;
D) If they would meet a set of previous established objectives they would be discharged from the program.
Where is the "pocket attack"?
1. Time is money, people attending these programs would "loose" time;
2. To pay for part of the costs with structures, all professionals and activities these people would either loose part of a financial assistance/benefits they might have or pay their taxes + X in the year of their program;
3. If people in the program quit, fail to comply or do not achieve the objectives, there will be different fines, extra charging on hospital taxes or health insurance, no co-payment from governments in medication.
I see this as a government health plan not sponsored by food supplements/pharmaceutical industry or gym companies.
manuel ruiz-echarri
Thanks a lot
Manolo.
João Coucelo 10+
A project like this has to be sustained in part by those who need it. To charge everyone would be unfair. We have to keep in mind that this plan is not to attack people is to help them, that's why their's a 1 year and 2 months program before "heavy" measures.
Point 2):In the country I live people with financial difficulties have a financial support, let's say at school the government pays for all or part of the books, or the meals at school, couples with certain number of children and small income or people who don't have a job also and a lot other. For those the motivation to learn and adopt a better life style would be in loosing this supports.
On other hand people with money enought not to have these supports would have to pay taxes + X in the year of their program. As such they would be also motivated to comply with changes.
Point 3) by not achieving the goals set in the beginning or leaving the program people would have to pay a fine and/or would loose their financial support when buying medicines or visiting an hospital. In the country I live, people go to the hospital and according to their social status pay differently (direct translation "moderator taxes"). And everyone when goes to a pharmacy with a prescription from the doctor have some cheaper medicines because the government pays part.
This would work in two ways: people would feel a financial motivation to change behaviors and on other hand is socially fair. Why? Health represents a huge part of government year budgets, on health as you know cardiovascular diseases are the 1st cause of death, desability(stroke) and chronic diseases. Obesity is central to HTN, DMT2, hypercholestorolemia, and a lot other.. so it is only fair that those consciously contributing to increase this problem to loose their financial supports from the government. It is a question towards self and other.
manuel ruiz-echarri
I´ll reread your answer, searching the way to adapt it to my country. I live in a society where people thinks to cure theirself is not their responsabilty; they think they should be cured by public health, whithout cash and effort, of course!
Sincerelly yours
Manuel
Debra Smith 200+
Nikolas R
It has to be simple, effective, and popularized through unity so that it can overcome and eradicate the other smaller lifestyle based myths and old-wives tales about food that are spamming our public consciousness.
It would be in the same official spirit as the food pyramid, but much deeper (yet still easy for the masses to understand and practice)
João Coucelo 10+
Why? Well because it is important... and because I think there is much to understand and change.
I will let other comment not directly following other I did but with its own line.
Whose responsibility is to educate overweight and obese parents? professors? day care workers? nutritionists? health care providers?
Whose responsibility is to stop food brain washing literally from birth?
Whose responsibility was to teach you to eat as if there won't be a next meal in about 3 hours?
SCIENCE: Over eating and bad eating habits modify your neural chemically system in ways that leads to obsessive compulsive disorders, depression, addiction not in strength wise but in pattern like comparable to drug addictions.
Obesity is a disease, actually an epidemic disease.
Brent Jones
Better societies come from better parenting.
Nikolas R
Now all the obese parents in the world will teach their children to be healthy!!! yayyy!!!
Michael Wolok
Nikolas R
Some are more prone than others to be addicted.
Stephen Camm
On a more personal note....most men and women are not attracted to fat people and I suspect it has to do with basics....our desire for a mate that "looks healthy" as well as (bluntly for many) some level of disgust though we do not express it. From a scientific perspective, yes the desire for concentrated calories is innate...it's less work. But to say we can't (or even that it contributes since this was not the case to the same degree in very recent times) eat sensibly I hope is not a reflection of declining mentality. At a government level.....meaning from your local PTA to the Feds...there is obviously a lot that can be done. The simplest is the PTA and an examination of what is served in your child's cafeteria....you know the rest of the drill with respect to Washington if interested. I would also mention that change at this level is easy....getting Congress to move is not. Lastly not buying "crap". Good luck.
Jerry Keusch
Corinne Finnie
Jerry Keusch
Eli Vidal
I think the solution needs to come from the equal group. Health care and nutrition education should use digital media, TV, and mass media which reaches chldren and youth and campaign that being healthy is more cool than being fat and eating fast food. Thats why social networs can contribute alot to this matter.
Abdi Ameen
Nikolas R
They should teach it clearly in energy management class or PE class.
Especially parents who are poor. Their childs health and fidelity is the last thing they focus on. Food is about survival not thriving to them. Its a sad defeat.
School lunches are a big leverage point to turn the tide.
Egg whites, chicken breasts, tuna, whole grain pasta/rice/bread, yogurt, almonds.
Tao P 50+
Carl LIndgren 500+
Nikolas R
Carl LIndgren 500+
jay kline
2: why and in what ways it can be a detriment to self to be a glutton
3. give love and time as a parent and listen to what your kids express, project and need.
these messages teach respect, accountability, love for self and others and make it a partnership bwtween parents and their children.
Leading by example is the most important message
Nikolas R
Jon Russo
Michael Wolok
Juliette Zahn 50+
emega marter
Mark Meijer 100+
I see in your profile you're already doing that. I love it. My respect.
Caroline Phillips 500+
manuel ruiz-echarri
Marien Rodriguez
Corinne Finnie
Thank you for that insight. Teachers are not equipped to identify children who are obese - it should come from the primary health care practitioners; however, teachers can definitely identify which children are not eating an overall healthy dietary pattern. They see what the children bring for lunch and two snacks each day. It is valuable if teachers can then offer some nutrition education to the entire class to encourage the student body to choose healthier foods more often.
Nikolas R
Thats what we need, a definitive destination where people can get good concise info.
If they type it in google they will become confused maybe.