And a little child shall lead them…
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Well, I really didnt even intend to blog today buddies…
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But, as I took my lunch time walk, a picture presented itself to me that I just had to share…
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So, I walk in a really pretty park here in a historic district off of downtown Columbus. Right across the street is a Catholic School. They often use the park as part of their recess or Phys. Ed.
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So I often see gaggles of school kids in the standard Catholic uniform. White shirt, blue or green bottoms…
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Today, for whatever reason, I decided to really look at these kids…
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Probably 6-7 year olds…Perhaps 20 of them?!?! I was actually surprised to see that almost half of them were overweight…And not just chubby, childhood, cute little roundness. I mean, out and out obesity!
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I was truly stunned.
I know we have a childhood obesity problem here in America. Obesity is a passion of mine, clearly, not only personally, but in my work with hospitals, insurance and benefits, I know well how it drives up health care costs…
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I guess I was just soooo surprised that these little kids have this burden to bare at such a young age…
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I mean, I am 35 years old and struggle with it…What would I have done at the age of 6???
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To top it off. The heavier kids…The ones that had bellies, that if I had to guess, would have to say were carrying an extra 20-30 pounds!!! A group of mabye 5 of them. were standing off to the side, while the other kids were running and playing…
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It made me incredibly sad to see it…And I just felt the need to share..
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Ugh…We owe it our children and our children’ s children to stop this…We really really do…
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Amen to that Dawnie. I work at a middle school and have a ton of girls especially who are quite large I am talking at least 50 pounds overweight. I know many girls who are 10-15 pounds overweight who need to just have a growth spirt and all will be fine but these girls load the fatty foods on their plates and drown them with dressing I just want to scream at them. The don’t see that it will only get worse as they age. The problem really is the parents. I know my parents were heavy and so was I as a kiddo they really didnt understand it is about how much food you eat and how much you workout. You can gain weight on anything if you don’t workout. And when you are heavy you don’t tend to do things to make you sweat or feel uncomfortable like working out the things you need the most. love your blog
I agree. I think fast food is just to convenient now and some of us parents use it more often then we should. Not to mention too many video games and no more PE in some schools and sugar in everything you buy all effect these kids. It starts at home. And our kids pay the price if we don’t do the right things for them.
being in my almost mid 20’s i grew up in the video game era. where that was all you did mostly sur we played outsid ebut most kids i knew spent the majority of their time inside sittingin fromt of the tv. a solution presents itself. unplug that thing and take your behind outside. thats the problem.
I do the same thing when I am out…. I look at kids and these days there are more overweight people in general than proper weight. I knew I had a problem so I have fed my daughter nothing but healthy food since she was born… never a drop of soda… no junk.. if we want treats we make them ourselves with healthy ingredients. I wish more parents would wake up and realize they aren’t doing kids any favors by shutting them up with a cookie or candy.
I know what you mean about there being so many kids that are overweight and they are too young to know better. Alot of it is the video games, tv, and fast food but most its the parents that simply don’t take time to teach their kids by example. I think every household with kids should have a mandatory half hour of pyshical activity everyday parents included even if it is just passing a ball back in forth its moving.
I hear ya! One of my granddaughters is heavier than she should be. I’ve talked to Tharon about it, but since she doesn’t live with him (at the moment), there’s not much he can do about it. But he’s working on getting custody, and that’s one of the points he’s using. It would be a lot easier for her (or any child) to lose the weight while still young!
I agree with all of you of course. Fast food has gotten so out of control. I noticed my McDonalds is now open 24 hours. Do we NEED a 24 hour McD’s???
When I was a kid, my mom took us to McDonalds or Burger Chef (Anyone remember those??) for a TREAT…Once every three months…
Crazy…
And I NEVER see kids playing out side now days…
I spent my summers riding my bike, roller skating, and playing in the creek. There was Atari, of course, but we certainly couldnt afford it…And frankly, I am glad…
UGH…Truly a sad epidemic…
I agree Dawnie. I work at a children’s hospital. We so much obesity, high cholesterol and diabetes even in fants!!! People need to wake up about what we are feeding and teaching our kids about their health.
This is why I say “No” to my kids when they want junk. I mean they do have treats but I don’t let them have them on a continuous basis. Parents have to educate themselves first if they don’t really know what is healthy and what isn’t. Many have no idea. I get such pride when I give my kids a snack and on it is an apple and then some chips for a treat, they eat the apple first every time. And of course there’s the outside time. so many kids are indoors either watching tv or on the computer. Parents need to step up to the plate and lead by example. I can’t imagine giving my kid’s a weight related disease down the road by neglecting their health now.
I agree totally with you here
It is absolutely out of control and its so sad.
In my daycare I used to have children bring their own lunches but they would bring such junk that it made me sick.
Then I started supplying lunches and snacks so now I know they are gettting healthy foods atleast while they are in my care.
It really is too bad that more parents don’t make the effort to feed their children nutritious foods and get them outdoors enjoying life and being healthy.
It would be so much easier to give them a healthy lifestyle when they are young than to try to develop one years down the road.
Don’t we owe that to our kids?
Thanks for such a great blog Dawnie
~~~~Lori
So true Dawnie. When I was little, I used to envy this girl Sara because she always got Twinkies in her lunch?!?!? I was the one with the Turkey Sandwich and Apple with Apple Juice packed by mom.
Everyone wanted to trade our healthy snacks for Sara’s Twinkie but she would only trade every once in a while…..I don’t much remember having overweight kids in my class, much less obese children but we were always outside running around before school, PE, lunch and after school. We also walked to school everyday, rain, snow or sleet, and I’m not kidding….mom and dad both worked. So, times have truly changed and although we can look at the parents and lay blame with them, I think it’s also difficult to be in their shoes. I work such long hours and I’m home so tired, I can see moms and dads of today just going to Wendy’s and McD’s for dinner. Then the kids become used to eating these fatty foods for lunch, breakfasts and snacks. I think the best approach is the one taken by Shannon but it’s not easy and she deserves a lot of credit for doing it the right way. 
To Shannon……
This is truly a scarey thought all of the obese children in the United States. I have four g/k who I am so glad are very active and love to play outdoors and their parents for the most part provide them with healthy eating. They are ages 2-7, but I am hopeful that this will continue with them as they get older.
Have a good day!
Saddly you are so right. My kids get mad at me when I don’t let them have junk all the time. My 2 oldest are 7 and they have not and will not drink soda, I hope when they get older they won’t even like it because they don’t drink it. I know we are in the minority here and sometimes that is hard (birthday parties, etc)
Dawnie.. You are amazing.. And yes we have to teach children how to get right in life and stay healthy…
That is one thing that I was shocked most about in Texas.. the kids were really overweight…