For my whole entire life I’ve struggled with my weight. It’s something that seems to just come along with being an American. Being a “bigger individual” is probably about the worst thing that can happen to you besides drug addiction. We may not be addicted to crack, but we’re addicted to food. Food addiction is dangerous. There’s even scientific studies that show how dangerous it is. It’s called binge eating. Doctor’s may say that we eat because we’re emotional or because we’re bored but I’ll tell you the real reason that kid’s these days eat more than they should. Parents. Parents in these times in our nation don’t watch out for their children. They think that we’re responsible enough to do that for ourselves. But newsflash people–we’re NOT adults! Weight is something that’s concerned me sinc I was just five years old and I know everything in the book about it. If you’re raising a child who is medically considered obese, do something about it! I can tell you with full assurance that it’s something you want to help them with at a young age. It’s just not responsible to let your children suffer. Is that what you really want? For your own flesh and blood to be called names and harrassed at school because of your foolish and irresponsible behavior? Only the terrifyingly abusive parents out there will say yes.
In my advice column, a parent wrote to me a few days ago concerning his or her child’s well being. They told me this–”My child has a mind of their own and can make their own decisions. How am I supposed to control what my eight year old does at four o’clock in the morning?” I couldn’t help but laugh at that second sentence. What kind of ignorant person lets their eight year old child stay up until four in the morning? The only reason I’m being so harsh is because the same thing was done to me as a child. I know that people make mistakes with their children. No one is perfect and I’ll be the first to admit it. However, letting your child stay up that late and make their own decisions is disgusting. Put your freaking foot down and say no. To the person who wrote that to me–you cannot control your child completely and that I will admit. But I’m not letting it slide. You may not be able to hold your kid’s hand every second of every twenty four hours of the day. What you can do, though, is make rules. Structure is key when you’re raising a child.
My advice to anyone out there reading this that is saying, “wow, what a wake up call” is this–put your child on a strict routine first. I’m not talking about those parents out there who want to schedule every second of their lives. That’s not what I mean in any way by “strict”. Write out a schedule for your kids and stick by it. Secondly, if your child has a weight problem there need to be restrictions for their diet. They need to be eating four or five smaller portioned meals a day and definitely very little snacking. Take charge of your child.
Parents–I am telling you that it is your responsibility to watch your child’s weight and health. It’s not your child’s fault when they become overweight. When they get older and they become responsible for themselves but for now you are in charge of them. You are the parents, therefore in control of your family. Do America a favor and help your children.
The other part of child and teen obesity is laziness. The contributing factors to the youth of this country becoming overweight are video games, computers and other types of technology. These things are very sufficent in life today, however, they cause problems by making people in our world much lazier. People can do just about anything without barely lifting a finger. Information is right at our hands just by turning on a computer. Yeah, it’s great but it’s too easy. No one has to go to the library anymore to find out anything. We barely even have to read anymore. We’re a nation of laze to say the least.
Weight gain is a serious problem in our nation. We as people–mothers, fathers, daughters and sons–need to take care of it.
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