Father's responsible for fat children

[mantra]

This is interesting. I've always blamed mothers for overfeeding their children and allowing them to be idle - but now scientists have discovered that if a father is fat - he's the one to be held responsible if his children are obese.

So watch out prospective fathers. Keep yourselves trim and your kids will be the same.

WONDERING whether your toddler will battle with their weight in years to come? Have a look at dad's waistline.

A University of Newcastle study of more than 3000 families found four-year-olds whose fathers were overweight or obese were at least four times more likely than other children to have weight problems themselves by eight years of age.

On the other hand, an overweight or obese mother made little difference to the chances of her child developing their own weight problems.

"We know that when both parents are overweight or obese, their children are more likely to also be overweight or obese," researcher Emily Freeman said.

"This project investigated patterns in families and tracked children from ages four to eight, where only one parent was overweight or obese."

The research used data from more than 3000 two-parent families tracked from 2004 to 2008. Previous research has found childhood obesity is a major health concern in Australia with up to 25 per cent of children overweight or obese.

"These results show we urgently need to test whether treating overweight fathers would be a successful strategy in childhood obesity prevention or treatment."

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/lifest ... 6191897976

[Neferti]

It is absolute rubbish. Some Newspaper Editor* pointed a finger at one of the junior staff and said "write an article on why kids are fat" for the Monday Edition. Blah blah.

Kids are fat because they eat too much and don't exercise, or run and play with a ball or ride their bikes anywhere. With Summertime, why aren't kids out kicking a ball around after school or just mucking about on the oval? Some "bad man" might grab them? Sure, it happens but not as often (in Australia at least) that parents should not allow their kids to walk to and from school (with other kids, perhaps?) Kids of 8 or 9 can make their own sandwiches, rather than be given a few dollars to buy what they like. At that age, what you like is lollies and soft drink. LOL



*or whomever gives those instructions, not having worked in that area.

[freediver]

It could be that the mother's weight is more related to giving birth and raising children rather than a genetic predisposition.

Treating obesity in a parent is a good idea regardless of the benefit to children.

[boxy]

Role models?

[AiA in Atlanta]

Am disgusted by the fatness of many Americans, especially Walmart shoppers. A third of them are so fat they are forced to ride around the store in electric shopping carts; sometimes entire fat families each have their own cart. And look at what they buy - cheap carbohydrates. In the early 70's the Nixon Administration put into place policies that lowered the cost of the food and this is the result. Food writer Michael Pollan urges us to spend more on food and eat less. That is my credo.

[Super Nova]

I do think it is the parents responsibility to educate their children how to eat in a healthy way. Father or mother, does not matter, it is their responsibility.

I have a 4 year old daughter and my wife is really training her to love good food, fruit, vege's ...etc. Only when it is a very special treat does she get any junk. She eat or veges in preference to chips on a plate. Amasing. Wife doing good. My role is to follow her lead and not send mixed messages. (I do give in more easily on the icecream treat though when out).

I am amased too as to how fat the Walmart crowd are in the US. Their food is amasing in resaurants. Largest portions in the world. I once made the mistake of ording a starter, a main with a side salad. The starter was so big I didn't need anymore food. I tried my hardest though.

Just like all other US influences spreading in the world... fat fucks are just another side effect of this influence.... or is it our prosperity... not sure.

[The Artist formerly known as Sappho]

Largest portions in the world. I once made the mistake of ording a starter, a main with a side salad. The starter was so big I didn't need anymore food. I tried my hardest though.

No... Brazil also do very large portions. And there is a simple solution... order a three course meal and share it with the person with whom you are sharing the outing. It's also a cheaper option.

[Super Nova]

Largest portions in the world. I once made the mistake of ording a starter, a main with a side salad. The starter was so big I didn't need anymore food. I tried my hardest though.

No... Brazil also do very large portions. And there is a simple solution... order a three course meal and share it with the person with whom you are sharing the outing. It's also a cheaper option.

I haven't been to Brazil. Would love to go.

I do like your idea to share... I will use it next time in the US with wife.

[The Artist formerly known as Sappho]

I haven't been to Brazil. Would love to go.

I do like your idea to share... I will use it next time in the US with wife.

Well, if you ever do go, you will have to try one of their all you can eat Seafood restaurants. I went to Marius' at the Copacabana, Rio De Janeiro which is an upmarket version. For the whole night, waiter after waiter come to your table with a large plates of various seafood, offering one serve at a time. They don't stop coming until you request for your plate to be removed. Only the best seafood is served that way... and their version of the best is not ours. For example, oysters are for the buffet selections only.

I've never had anything like it since.

Then again... I loved the all you can eat Pizza restaurant tucked away in suburban Salvador too. You get one slice of every pizza, at a time, and all pizza's on the menu are on offer. The Brazilian's eat their pizza with Tomato Sauce and Mayonnaise... Yuk! Nobody eats the crusts. They are dumped in the middle of the table and left their to grow in number... perhaps as a reminder of how much they've all eaten? I don't know. The crust is thin and the toppings diverse.

I'd never been to an 'all you can eat' restaurant previously, and have been once since then in Oz. Our 'all you can eat' joints are nothing like theirs. In Brazil, you are served at the table by a waiter... here... all you can eat is a buffet only affair with cheap ingredients.

[mantra]

I am amased too as to how fat the Walmart crowd are in the US. Their food is amasing in resaurants. Largest portions in the world. I once made the mistake of ording a starter, a main with a side salad. The starter was so big I didn't need anymore food. I tried my hardest though.

Just like all other US influences spreading in the world... fat fucks are just another side effect of this influence.... or is it our prosperity... not sure.

It's a crime. While so many people on this planet are starving, the yanks keep stuffing their faces with mammoth meals. The waste and self indulgence is obscene. They have 5% of the world's population - yet consume 25% of the world's energy. It's obvious this applies to food as well.

A third of them are so fat they are forced to ride around the store in electric shopping carts; sometimes entire fat families each have their own cart. And look at what they buy - cheap carbohydrates. In the early 70's the Nixon Administration put into place policies that lowered the cost of the food and this is the result. Food writer Michael Pollan urges us to spend more on food and eat less.

I can't think of anything more revolting. They're killing their children. Our politicians here have talked about a higher tax on junk food which seems to be about the only solution to get people to ease up on their food intake, although Australia's food is quite expensive anyway and fresh food is comparatively priced to junk food. Since the Howard era - I've noticed that shoppers no longer seem to fill their baskets with rubbish, but just the essentials for home cooking. Hopefully we won't end up the same way as the americans, although pockets of obesity exist in some areas.