"Fat Kid Laws"

[Rapture]

To me, a "fat kid" law would be a double-edged sword.

First, let me say that "In the United States, the percentage of overweight or obese children has doubled over the past 30 years to 25 per cent of the under-19 population."

Source: http://www.pivotaladvisor.com/public/227.cfm

Obesity is a real problem. I never dreamt I would see the day when we had children with type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and any other number of ADULT health problems. Not to mention the social isolation, ridicule, and embarassment that goes along with being morbidly obese. These children are also at risk for a less-than lengthy life in general because all those extra pounds they have to carry around everyday is giving their heart more mileage than it can handle.

This is a real problem today in America in adults and children and something has to be done. I'm usually not the one to say "Ohhh these laws are just another way to place all responsibility on the government to keep us from our own actions..." but...what the hell??? Who cares if it works??? A lot of parents are out to put all blame and responsibility on everyone other than themselves and maybe this will make it easier for them...because you know what? Now the law says you HAVE to care about your kids weight...even if you don't. Finger pointed, responsibility claimed, the end.

There also in my opinion, needs to be some kind of law that cuts off the insurance companies from cutting off coverage for medically necessary bariatric surgeries. I hear waaaaaaaay to often about them trying to debate whether they are going to pay for it or not, which is also contributing to the obesity problem itself.

The only thing I don't like about this is that the government is going to have control over yet another thing in our lives...but maybe this is a necessary fix to a problem that only seems to be getting worse.

 

[Davey Gaga]

Mmm, could we get a source for that? Metabolism plays an incredibly heavy role in how fat people can get, and that is something that is largely influenced by genetics (And metabolism isn't something that's easy to manipulate with our current publicly available medicine, either).

The metabolic pathways in humans are the same across the population. The rates can vary, but that's it. What I'm saying is that just because you have a gene (faulty or not, depends on which study you read) that is related to obesity, it does not mean you are bound to become fat. If you don't have a sedentary lifestyle as well, you can balance it out. It might take a little bit more effort but it's no excuse.

http://www.news-medical.net/news/2006/08/06/19289.aspx

On a side note, "being fat" != unhealthy. Sure, plenty of fat people are unhealthy, but all of society's "fat hate" is, for this very reason, stupid (It is quite possible for a fat guy to have an incredibly healthy heart and a skinny guy to have clogged arteries and poor lifestyle-induced diabetes; this goes back to the metabolism thing I was talking about). Also, check out sumo wrestlers. Very healthy, very fat.

These are extremes, if anything. You can see 40/day smokers living to their 90s and you see young athletes dropping dead at 25. Largely, however, you'll find fat people are unhealthy, mostly through things like high blood pressure or diabetes. It always seems a bit like clutching at straws when you see "fat people aren't always unhealthy"...

 

[Mr. Gorilla]

The metabolic pathways in humans are the same across the population.

The general structure of human bodies are the same across the human population, as well. Doesn't mean there aren't plenty of subtle differences.

The rates can vary, but that's it.

Whch is my point. Those rates can vary quite a bit, and cause dramatic differences in weight for people who follow balanced diets and average exercise routines.

What I'm saying is that just because you have a gene (faulty or not, depends on which study you read) that is related to obesity, it does not mean you are bound to become fat.

And on the flipside, just because you work out and eat healthy doesn't mean you're bound to be thin.

If you don't have a sedentary lifestyle as well, you can balance it out. It might take a little bit more effort but it's no excuse.

You're underestimating how great of an effect metabolism can have on the human body. In many cases it takes far more effort to achieve a healthy condition. There's no excuse for unjustly placing the blame on someone born with low metabolism for "not working hard enough."

http://www.news-medical.net/news/2006/08/06/19289.aspx

I'm confused as to the relevance of this article.

I may have missed it, but where did it say that genetics play a role in obesity in less than 5% of the cases? With that said, I didn't read every single word of the article--I more or less skimmed it, but you can point out the relevant portions to me if you want--but, if anything, it seems to support my stance more, and suggest that genetics is a notable factor in obesity.

Largely, however, you'll find fat people are unhealthy, mostly through things like high blood pressure or diabetes.

Sure they are, on average, but that doesn't mean that society doesn't exaggerate the "obesity epidemic" and the rate of severe health complications that result from being fat, nor does it justify the extreme fatty hate.

 

[L]

all I have to say is:

AMERICA
where a heart attack is cheaper than a healthy, wholesome meal
​

Hell, any kind of juice here is more expensive than soda.

I particularly like to pick on V8. It's good stuff, amazing really. Cost 3-4 times as much as a 2 liter soda and has half as many servings.

You probably couldn't tell just by looking at me, and it's not like I'm morbidly obese - But I come in at 325 on the scales.

Ignoring the fact that I'm overweight, I'm a pretty tall and large guy just for starters.

Personally, the only thing I need to do to drop weight is change my diet. No matter how you look at it, a balanced and healthy meal just costs more than junk food.

 

[Sum1sgruj]

Genetics is not an excuse. It really just makes healthy eating even more important.
Nonetheless, making regulations and statutes on the matter is still ridiculous. It shouldn't be up to anybody to decide one's eating habits.

Besides, they are going about it the wrong way. Instead of limiting food, it would probably be better and less personal if healthy food wasn't so much more expensive. Adding sidewalks on stretches of road, having more parks, etc. is also a good strategy.

 

[Gaige]

Ehhhh...I'm not really so willing to foist all responsibility onto the parent. If a kid eats unhealthily as a kid, but then continues into this unhealthy lifestyle when they reach adulthood, they're to blame, really. I'm not judging the obese and saying they're less than me, but to say it's the fault of the parent, or the vending machines in school, is to take the responsibility off the child him or herself. While it's a factor in childhood and adulthood conditioning, I...don't see why someone can't realize that it's partially their fault they've become overweight.

I don't see how this can be compared to the Jamie Oliver crap, tbh. That was patronizing BS that probably made no difference to more than it helped. It left the choice to snack there. If the government goes "We're taking your food, fatty," that's one factor in the whole situation removed.

While I am an advocate of the spare the rod=spoiling the child mentality, I believe to hoist all responsibility onto the shoulders of the parents and the artificial vending machines is taking the easy way out, and that it's crap. Kids need to take a certain degree of responsibility too, from as young as 12, really.

It's gonna be trial and error, sure. But at least they're doing SOMETHING. If this doesn't work, hopefully they'll try something else, until something whittles down the fat. My parents spoiled me food wise as a kid, and while I didn't get fat because of a stupidly fast metabolism, I got pretty sick, anemic etc etc. The kid has to take some responsibility too, basically.

 

[bearsfwd]

Oh, I agree that the kid has to take some responsibility, but that only comes when they are old enough to understand what is healthy and what isn't (usually after they've had health classes in school). If they still choose to eat unhealthy, it is on them at that point. However, up until that point, any blame should be put on the parents. After all, kids are kids, and with kids being picky eaters at times (not all kids are, but I would think it's fair to say that a good number of kids are relatively picky), sometimes it's understandable for parents to give the kid anything that they will eat just so they eat. I won't blame parents for that. But I will blame parents who don't TRY to give their kids healthy foods.