The Kid Problem

There is an awful lot of talk and attention being paid to the obesity epidemic.  An extension of that problem was the subject of a recent NPR blog that included this passage: "According to one estimate, about 2,000 children and teens suffer strokes every year as a result of hypertension. But the good news, says Washington, is that medication is generally not needed for this age group. Simple life style changes can do the trick. Cutting down on high fat foods and high sugar drinks, along with active family outings, can make a big difference, he says. And, because of higher metabolism, kids have an easier time shedding pounds than adults."

I have a skinny little kid with a skinny little mom and his parents are conscientious about what goes into mouths around here. Likewise, we're very conscientious about being active. I seriously doubt he will ever be obese. But he is more an exception than the rule around these parts. I see a lot of overweight kids. I also see a lot of poor kids.

In town, and nationally, there are all kinds of programs to get kids to eat better and exercise more. It doesn't work. At least not here. And here's the reason why: Kids are only as good as their parents when it comes to mealtime and exercise. That, and a diet that includes lots of fruits, vegetables, and other fresh ingredients is expensive. Unfortunately, diets that are high in fats, salt, and sugar are relatively cheap. In short: As incomes shrink, waistlines grow.

You can lecture and advertise all you want. You can make clever tag lines and set the bar high. But if you're not willing or able to buy the goods, you're not going to get the results. Talk is cheap. Getting fat is even cheaper. Of all the pitfalls and potholes thrown at a child, one of the worst is poverty. Poverty is depressing and, for many, erodes the initiative to do the right thing. In the place of an active lifestyle and good food choices you find inactivity and overeating.

Maybe it's an unfair generalization. I realize it takes more than poverty to make a person gain weight. Maybe it's a disservice to suggest that anyone other than the individual is responsible for his or her own health. Maybe. But when it comes to being poor, lacking cooking skills, and being hungry, our grocer's shelves and freezers are well stocked with quick, easy, and filling selections. Many of them covered by food stamps. Most of them at discount prices. Most all of them fattening. And the really sad thing is this: The food and agriculture industry makes a whole lotta money selling that cheap crappy food.

For my two cents I think the solution, for now, lies in the public schools becoming a model for lifestyle. I think our public schools need to provide that home where smart choices become second nature, just like I hope they are in my son's home. Problem is, the schools don't have any money either.