Do you think the government should send letters home notifying parents of their

1. 74

   Abby Campbellposted 10 years ago

   Do you think the government should send letters home notifying parents of their children's obesity?
   
   Public schools mailing notices to parents about their child's obesity? That's right! It's a new government initiative. What are your thoughts?

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2. 73

   lburmasterposted 10 years ago

   Not really. That's a bit more power, to show that they are trying to control families. Yes, there are plenty of overweight children. But go to Mexico, there are just as many there as there are here. American's are becoming overweight because of our society's attitude and I can't wait until we get a reajustment.

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      Abby Campbellposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      What would you suggest for a readjustment, Iburmaster?

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      lburmasterposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      A realization that most children actually are overweight and that it's a major problem. Most people just don't have the time to keep up with their own weight loss, much less their child's. An easier plan would definately help.

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3. 66

   sarahmooseposted 10 years ago

   Our schools don't mail parents if this happens in the UK, but children have regular check ups with a school nurse. I think they then send a letter home to indicate any issues they have picked up on, including weight issues.

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4. 47

   artist101posted 10 years ago

   As a parent myself, it really isn't up to the government, it is up to us. If your child was overweight, you don't need a letter stating that fact, you already know.
   My thought is correct the problem. It's easier said than done.
   As I have already stated in numerous articles, and by answering questions.
   Our current state of obesity is due to many factors. Among them are over processed food, a lack of whole foods in the diet, over use of anti biotics, steriods, and even over the counter meds, saturated fats, instead of good fats, that actually feed our body, and brains, lack of exercise, and fresh air.
   The foods we binge on gives us clues as to what nutrient we need. If our body doesn't get what it needs, it will keep screaming for it. Thereby setting up a vicious cycle.
   A craving for carbs, would imply trytophan, or b complex. Salty foods, magnesium.
   Fried foods, omega 3 fatty acids, and so forth. Due to processing, those nutrients are not present in our food. Our bodies are not satisfied, so therefore we binge.
   By getting to the root cause, we eliminate the problem.

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      Abby Campbellposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      As a professional nutritionist myself, I completely agree with you. 

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5. 61

   duffsmomposted 10 years ago

   No, I do not.  Any parent with eyeballs in their head, as well as the child, knows if there is an obesity problem. The last thing a child needs is the school jumping on the bandwagon.
   
   Schools can have nutrition classes that teach about portions and healthy foods rather than call attention to a child with a problem.

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   1. 74

      Abby Campbellposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Sometimes I wonder if children actually know that they have weight issues, especially when they are surrounding by two-thirds of a population who are overweight/obese. A "chubby" kid stood out to the crowd 25 years ago. Now the "skinny" kid does.

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   2. 61

      duffsmomposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Believe me they will know simply, and sadly but the taunting of their fellow students.  Kids do not miss anything they can tease another child about.

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6. 73

   soconfidentposted 10 years ago

   No, but it would be kinda insulting to call somebody child fat and at the same to time quit funny

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7. 62

   greenchaposted 10 years ago

   Only if parents indicated before hand that they wish to be notified of any noticed
   health concerns.
      Otherwise the Government should mind their own business and get on with running the country.

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8. 0

   JThomp42posted 10 years ago

   No, that is all the government needs is more power. It all starts at home. People think that they are helping their kids by giving them all they want to eat, "I'm not going to let my child go hungry." Normally the children's eating habits have been learned from their parent/parents. Parents need to take into account their child's health. There are so many cases with childhood diabetes, high blood pressure, etc. than ever before. And stop letting your children be coach potatoes. Get outside with them and it is a win, win situation.

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9. 77

   ExpectGreatThingsposted 10 years ago

   I don't see how this will help the problem at all. If a child is obese, his parents surely know. And receiving a letter about it is not going to motivate them to do anything about it. It seems a very poor way to address and fix the problem.
   
   Maybe a better way would be to take the snack machines and soda machines out of the schools.

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      Abby Campbellposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I remember back in my school days, we had health and physical education classes... as well as the "Presidential Physical Challenge." No kid wanted to be be last in the 1-mile run. What ever happened to education instead?

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10. 84

    Wesman Todd Shawposted 10 years ago

    No.  In fact, I think the government should stay the hell out of your life, your kid's life, and most definitely MY life.
    
    I think the government is the least in all authorities under the stars in knowing what is best for you, what is best for your child, what is best for me, or what is best for any living being.
    
    In fact, I hate government - and I know that government, like a virus, only ever seeks to grow, to expand, and to internally justify its own existence, regardless of the effects on the host...the governed.

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11. 69

    Larry Fieldsposted 10 years ago

    I agree wholeheartedly with most of the hell-no answers so far.
    To that I'd add that the quick-and-dirty definition of overweight used by most health professionals is the BMI. That's body mass index. As I showed in a recent hub, the BMI is essentially pseudoscience, with a built-in bias for false positives in tall people.

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       Get Thin for Goodposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Yes, Larry has a point.

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       Abby Campbellposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       I agree, Larry. BMI is not only inaccurate for tall people. Those who are athletic with a good amount of muscle mass will also be considered obese even when they have extremely low body fat levels. Then there are "skinny fat" folks who would be okay.

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12. 70

    davenmidtownposted 10 years ago

    not every body can be size 2... so no I think the government should not be involved in obesity... there are other agencies that can be involved if the child is in danger for food addiction, etc.

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13. 74

    lone77starposted 10 years ago

    I think the government should stop approving genocide, sterilization and the like.
    
    Dr Rima Laibow Exposes Genocidal Plot
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3cvqrNvcR8
    
    Some think I'm a "conspiracy theorist," because I don't like what the government is doing. Naw! To heck with theories. I just don't like the ugly facts.
    
    Don't pretend that conspiracies have never happened in the history of humanity.
    
    Don't pretend that mad men never gain positions of power.
    
    Don't pretend that bankers are never greedy.
    
    And don't pretend that people who lust for power and money wouldn't murder for them.
    
    The Rockefeller polluted government-corporate fascism in America has perverted the relationship between children and their parents, gradually making them obsolete by design. And the schools get worse and worse. Dozens of countries in the world now have far better education that we Americans do. Also by design. How does it help that the national debt has been skyrocketing under Bush, and now is accelerating under Obama? By design and not for our well-being.
    
    Watch the video and find out how you and your children are "excess eaters" taking from "their limited resources."

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       Abby Campbellposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Thanks for sharing, lone77star. I also have been following some of what is going on with the theory of "downsizing our population" as well as the "Rockefeller polluted government in America." It is definitely interesting to say the least.

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14. 60

    Jeff Gambleposted 10 years ago

    Politicians need to let go of the urge to protect us from ourselves, especially those in Massachusetts. (I can say that, I'm a Mass native.) If you haven't seen the bit from last weekend's SNL, Seth Meyers commented on the story out of the Great Blue State, "Some parents in Massachusetts are upset with new "fat letters" being sent out by schools informing them that their children are obese. Though they could have used gentler phrasing than 'Your kid's a wicked porker.'"
    
    I nearly soiled myself I was laughing so hard. Bottom line, there are far more important things our leaders should be working on than telling Mr. & Mrs. America that little Timmy isn't so little.

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