How to stop Britain getting fat?

[Brighton Breezy]

Reports in the paper today about Britain having increasing problems with obescity and how our kids are getting too fat and the government are not doing enough. It has been suggested that all television advertising for unhealthy food should be banned. What would you all do?

For a starters I would start making kids walk to school then there would not be as much traffic in the mornings and kids would not be fat.
I would also make schools have more PE lessons and refuse to accept sick notes from fat kids.

 

[fatboy]

www.askrichie.com

 

[Brighton Breezy]

There I was trying to start a serious debate on one of todays news issues and Fatboy ruins the thread....

 

[CHAPPERS]

Educate parents more.

It isn't the governments or McDonalds fault that kids ar fat. The parents are the ones than feed them. If they are educated in the ways of healthy eating and regualr exercise then there would be no problem innit.

 

[Gazwag]

www.askrichie.com

 

[Barnet Seagull]

more dogs.

 

[Brighton Breezy]

I think that the main problem is that young uneducated parents take thier kids to McDonalds every day as a way of showing affection, in the same way they buy them DVD players etc to watch their Disney films on. They have never been educated in parenting and have misguided value systems. Sort this out and then you will begin to sort out wider social problems.

 

[lincs seagull]

I work in the food industry in the salad divison so healthy eating is benfiting me as more of the fast food boys are changing there menus.

Mcdonalds are working hard to change their image with salad choice throught public pressure the tide is turning.

To look at it i am in full favour of banning fast food adverts aiming at kids it is very affective as every six year old knows pizza hut and burger king as they aim at them to spend time there with crap gifts.

Education is so important back to teaching children about food and cooking so many people cant cook and depend on fast food and ready meals

show them about calorie intake and exercise stop selling of land to build on and keep the Recks for the Kids and more compertive sports football rugby atletics swimming the goverment should tax high fat foods and plough it in to sport so kids can devlop in to something other than lard balls

Education is the key we have become lazy as the yanks do we really want to head down the path the yanks are at?

 

[Gazwag]

A lot has to do with the amount of exercise they get. How many children today even walk to school. Parents who drive there kids to the school gate I think come into three categories:

1. Housewives who are too lazy to walk to school cos they might miss a bit of day time tele or be late for coffee with their friends.

2. Households where both parents or single parents work therefore there is no time to get children to school and then walk to work.

3. The safety issues, how many parents of children under senior school age are comfortable letting their children walk to school on their own.

Schools don't help either with the amount of playing fields being sold off and less and less sports/PE time and the fact that physical activities at playtime are more and more limited due to the nanny state we are now living in.

 

[bobbyzee]

richie...a great thread
this country needs help very fast or it'll end up turning into america..

 

[alan partridge]

that ask richie thing is brilliant

on a serious note, we'd have to change our whole eating culture. as a nation we just are not discerning enough with food. we are very adventurous which is GOOD, but too many people go for cheap over quality which is BAD.

also we have far too many shitty ready made meal/foods aimed at kids. but then again thats just part of the kind of world we live in these days (not enough time to cook) and is a problem in loads of places.

ban the shitty junk food ads at kids though, definitely. would probably have a negligible effect on obesity levels but f*** it. they're shit foods and shit ads. waste of space.

 

[Josky]

I think that the main problem is that young uneducated parents take thier kids to McDonalds every day as a way of showing affection, in the same way they buy them DVD players etc to watch their Disney films on. They have never been educated in parenting and have misguided value systems. Sort this out and then you will begin to sort out wider social problems.

Had a similar debate about this with my girlfriend's dad.

I believe the problem is less a dietary problem, than the fact that we as a society lead a more sedentary lifestyle. Regular exercise will keep weight down and fat off, even if you do each a lot of rubbish. However, reducing weight and changing body shape simply through diet is difficult and not a particularly healthy way to lose weight.

I certainly disagree with a common theory that parents take their kids to McDonalds every day because they are lazy, bad parents, etc.. Rubbish. The idea that most families can afford to take their kids to eat fast food most nights of the week ignore the fact it is a) very expensive and b) cheap fatty products from supermarkets which are generally used to make kids' meals with are more to blame.

However, I for one would be very happy if McDonalds went out of business.

And relax...

 

[Brighton Breezy]

Josky,
When I used to walk past McDonalds in Hull it was the same scally people in their every single day.

 

[Josky]

That's hardly enough evidence to point to widespread negation of parental responsibility though, is it?

Sure there will be some families who are like that, but the majority of Britons buy cheap packaged food from the supermarkets for meals rather than each out every night. Being cheap, the food tends to contain a high fat content in order to bulk it out.

Exercise is still the most important factor though.

 

[Brighton Breezy]

I agree Josky. Our kids dont do anywhere near enough exercise. Interetingly on the news today they had the results of a survey of children about their play habits and loads said they were too scared to play outside because of 'stranger danger' and traffic, in London however lots of kids sid they were scared of terrorism.

The government should make more of an effort to get kids doing PE etc and school. I know they are trying to make the free school dinners more healthy but not quite getting it right, the school my mum works at gets their free school dinners delivered to them and these include Avocado sandwiches that, strangely enough, not many kids eat.

 

[alan partridge]

'stranger danger'

this is, i reckon, one of the worst things for our kids.

not that there are paedophiles on every street corner but the fact people THINK there are.

i think its ironic that as a nation we wouldn't dream of letting our kids walk to school on their own BUT when parents try and take their kids out to a public place, say, a pub that isn't some shitty 'family pub', your kids are more likely to be greeted with irritation than a smile.

i reckon all kids should have compulsory one hour 'hamster wheel' sessions at school. that'll do the trick

 

[Brighton Breezy]

More after school clubs would help, so perhaps paying teachers overtime to take them might encourage more to get involved.

 

[Gwylan]

A ban on all school playing field sales.

More cycling lanes (and better enforcement of them). More traffic free areas. More provision for pedestrians.

Better education about diet and nutrition.

Ban on fast food/sweets ads during TV programmes

 

[chips and gravy]

I used to eat rubbish most days when I was at school, even before I had ever visited a McDonalds. I wasn't overweight at all until I hit my thirties since I walked 2 miles to school every day, played football/ cricket/ outside games every chance I could. Now I am older I eat well, but am a couple of stone overweight. Why? Because I don't have time to do enough exercise.

 

[Josky]

Can you blame parents for being scared to let their kids out in the streets as the media in this country has done its best to frighten everyone into thinking paedophiles lurk on every corner and 'crazy' Muslims are ready to blow themselves up at any moment.

FACT: Kids are safer now than they ever have been, the perception of crime has risen.

Actually I do blame parents for taking in such rubbish that the NOTW, Sun, Daily Mail, Express, BBC and ITN peddle to whip up a frenzy.

Erm... sorry back to food. The reason a lot of kids are put off 'healthier' options could be due to schools attempting and failing to make decent options available, thus tainting their experience.

BTW, avocado is very high in calories...