Children and Obesity: Who is Responsible?
In the recent discussion of children and obesity, a controversial issue has been whether we should put the blame on the fast food industry or the parents. On the one hand, some argue that the fast food restaurants aren’t properly labeling their menus. From this perspective, this would look to be the fast food restaurant’s fault. On the other hand, however, others argue that it is the parents’ fault because they are not controlling what their children eat. In the words of one of these view’s main proponents, “that we need to take responsibility for our own health.” According to this view, we need to pay attention to what our children are eating. In sum, then, the issue is whether we parents should control obesity or whether fast food industries should. My view is that we parents need to embed good eating skills in our children in hopes that when they become young adults they will have the right eating habits. In addition, the government should fund school sports because it will give more children a chance to be active and stay healthy. Though I concede that I don’t have good eating habits, I still maintain that good eating habits should be taught in the home. Although some might object that we should have someone else controlling our diet, I reply that no that there should not be a third party. The issue is important because obesity is out of control especially in children.
Why is the problem of obesity in children so important? According to the U.S Department of Health &Human Services website, the obesity in children ages 6 – 19 has risen by 12% from 1963 -2002. In the years between 1979 -1981 the hospital costs of caring for children with obesity were at 35 million dollars. Statistics show that between the years 1997 – 1999 the amount of hospital cost were $127 million dollars to treat children with obesity. This is an