Obese? Don't worry, it's not your fault?

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Originally Posted by SEATFreak

....And then when they have been told by their parents to get of the X-Box and go outside to a park the Government bulldozed for housing months ago, they try the grassy area outside where that cantankerous old neighbour Mr Smith comes out and complains that their making a nuisance.

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A very good point indeed. :up:

It's worth remembering that the bulldozing of playing fields started years ago under the Tories.

Very good points SEATFreak :up:

I agree wholeheartedly with you. I was one of the people who enjoyed sport at school so I was lucky. I wasn't always good but I still enjoyed it. But I know of others who didn't feel the same sadly!

I like watching women volleyball, can this help me lose weight? :wave:

There's been lots of good points made on both sides of the arguement, but I tend to agree that it still comes down to choice. We're all affected daily by marketing ploys wether we're fully aware of it or not... however, if you're making an effort to eat healthily and lose weight it's not hard to avoid! Just don't pick the goods up! Besides, special offers on biscuits and crisps etc may be tempting, but I don't think fruit has EVER been more expensive than chocolates, cakes and snacks, so I refute that it's down to cost alone.

When it comes to overweight children... in the majority of cases (excluding certain health conditions) it's the parents fault alone. It's simple. There are other factors of course, but again parents can have an impact on this... exercise as has been mentioned. I agree that there's less spaces for children to play in now, and there's obviously the safety issues too... but taking your children to the park for a good run around on a saturday instead of them sitting playing on their computer? What happened to that?! Is it the parents laziness instead perhaps? Parents have got to get their children interested in being outdoors, doing activities even if it's not too strenuous.

I heard the radio news the other day reporting that a complete re-structure of how PE was taught in schools and getting rid of embarrassing gym kits was going to be proposed and I think this is a good idea. As a teenager, I hated the stupid teeny tiny gymn skirt we had to wear for PE, it was just awful and bloody freezing too. I bet many a self-conscious student, male AND female at some point have detested PE for the embarrassment factor!

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Originally Posted by BDunnell

Sadly, not every child enjoys sport. This has nothing to do with being lazy. I generally hated sport at school because I wasn't any good at most of it, and I found it embarrassing.

There ought to be a greater emphasis on 'keep fit' at school, in my view, rather than teaching kids actual sports all the time in which it's very difficult for many to participate effectively. This might help to encourage children to take part at their own level and get some benefit.

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I disliked sports classes at school too. Mainly because I was just weak. :) And there was quite a bit of competition too... and I'm not into competing, especially if I get the last place all the time. ;) It was also a bit bad that sports classes usually consisted of football, basketball, volleyball, whateverball. And I don't like ball games. And I don't like team games. And I absolutely hated running.

However, some things I did like... even though I never got to do it at school, I liked to ride my bike... at school, I liked to rowing... and from and to school, I liked to walk(cars are for fatties ;) ).

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Originally Posted by SEATFreak

....And then when they have been told by their parents to get of the X-Box and go outside to a park the Government bulldozed for housing months ago, they try the grassy area outside where that cantankerous old neighbour Mr Smith comes out and complains that their making a nuisance.

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Absolutely.

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Originally Posted by SEATFreak

As as fa as the issue kids, weight and excercise are concerned do they have the opportunities to excercise? Those in a good income household may not have problems with money but what about those on low income?

Yes, they may live, like I do, near to a Leisure Centre but could they afford the price of admission if their on low income?

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If you have healthy body and functioning limbs, you can exercise everywhere. And it makes you more creative too when you have to think about where and how I can exercise.

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Originally Posted by SEATFreak

Then of course theirs the food. Could their mothers afford to buy heathier food when foods high in saturated fans, callories or sugar might be cheaper?

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I don't know, maybe fathers could. :p

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Originally Posted by slinkster

When it comes to overweight children... in the majority of cases (excluding certain health conditions) it's the parents fault alone. It's simple. There are other factors of course, but again parents can have an impact on this... exercise as has been mentioned. I agree that there's less spaces for children to play in now, and there's obviously the safety issues too... but taking your children to the park for a good run around on a saturday instead of them sitting playing on their computer? What happened to that?! Is it the parents laziness instead perhaps? Parents have got to get their children interested in being outdoors, doing activities even if it's not too strenuous.

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Sometimes, the reason is that parents lack time to do things with their children. You know, have to do the adult big world stuff, business and things. :) I just read this little article: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...&type=business

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Originally Posted by slinkster

I heard the radio news the other day reporting that a complete re-structure of how PE was taught in schools and getting rid of embarrassing gym kits was going to be proposed and I think this is a good idea. As a teenager, I hated the stupid teeny tiny gymn skirt we had to wear for PE, it was just awful and bloody freezing too. I bet many a self-conscious student, male AND female at some point have detested PE for the embarrassment factor!

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Although I got to wear whatever I wanted at PE classes at school, I was still a bit embarrasses(because of my performance). Also I felt that I was forced to do something I didn't want to...(goes with most classes at school...). I don't think moving yourself should be a chore or work. Moving yourself should be fun. But as the headmaster of the school I went to once said, "school is not a sanatorium". :s tare:

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Originally Posted by Erki

Sometimes, the reason is that parents lack time to do things with their children. You know, have to do the adult big world stuff, business and things. :) I just read this little article: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...&type=business

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Then I guess it comes down to priorities. Your kids health or work. *shrug* I'm not a parent so fair do's I don't know how hard it all is. But one of the reasons I choose not to be a parent is because I don't have the time or money to be one. Both my parents worked fulltime when I was a kid, but my Dad still used to take us out walking the dog in the evening and to the park at the weekend. It wasn't much, but it got us out the house. We were lucky to have a nice big park nearby and a garden to play in sure, and I know many kids won't have that... but it doesn't take much to take your kids out. Even if it's walking. It takes time yes... and that's something that alot of parents don't have for their children which is sad.

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Originally Posted by Erki

Although I got to wear whatever I wanted at PE classes at school, I was still a bit embarrasses(because of my performance). Also I felt that I was forced to do something I didn't want to...(goes with most classes at school...). I don't think moving yourself should be a chore or work. Moving yourself should be fun. But as the headmaster of the school I went to once said, "school is not a sanatorium". :s tare:

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I hated the PE teachers too. They favored the more active ones, they detested any child who found sport difficult. That needs to change. But having said that, when we had the choice what we wanted to do I didn't mind the actual activities. We got to choose what sport we wanted to do out of certain options each term and I didn't feel forced to do the things I hated. But again, I guess not all schools have the options and resources for this. I actually commend my school for allowing me to choose what PE we wanted to do. Anyone that can get a kid who hates PE to actually not dread the lessons should be commended in my book. It IS possible. I HATED most sports with a passion (netball, athletics, gymn) but with choice, there was actually things I enjoyed doing (trampolining, fitness, aerobics, tennis).

Also, as well as the certain individual persons, do we not give Supermarkets a portion of blame?

I mean where are Mars bars and bars of Nestle's Galaxy to be found? Not just in the confectionary department....but also slap bang in that little shelf by the checkout aisle where you can also find other sweets like chewing gum! I mean that is just asking for kids to use their formidable "pester power" on their poor parents. Tactical placing methinks of certain food.

Also...price. I see Tesco has for 74p a pack of 6 Buttermilk Pancakes. I know nothing about supermarket prices but that is quite cheap is it not? Is it not cheaper than say one bag of oranges?

Their isn't, I think, just a problem with the person. Theirs also, I think, a problem with the source. Where people get their food. Food laiden with sugar, or saturated fat or calories might represent better value than say a bag of one item of fresh fruit and is certainly more widespread than healthier food.

Ah SEATFreak. But you'll get the nanny-state brigade on your back saying "Don't bloody well tell me what to eat" and so on :rolleyes:

Our local Sainsburys doesn't have anything other than magazines on the checkouts :) Which is a good thing I think.

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Originally Posted by schmenke

I wonder how many "impulse" purchases would be made if these were replaced by a fruit stand? :mark:

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I bought a kilo of bananas as an impulse purchase. Albiet my checkout was the only one close to the fruit and vege stand, and even then I had to give up my place in the line to get it... and i was buying 'study materials' which consist of red bull and snickers... but hey i impulse bought fruit! im gonna have one now! lets see if bananas go well with red bull