Over Weight School Children To Get Home Help

BERNADETTE · 09-08-2008, 20:31

It is reported that as of September primary school children will be weighed and if it is found that they are obese specialist nurses will be cold calling at their homes to offer help tackling the problem. Surely the money that is being spent on setting things like this up could be put to better use. I think a lot of parents will resent the fact that somebody is undermining their parenting skills.

flashy · 09-08-2008, 20:34

maybe the money would be better spent on something like extra swimming lessons for them? afterall, swimming is one of the best forms of exercise for losing weight

Bonnyboy · 09-08-2008, 20:39

Waste of cash in my opinion. Some kids are chubby and turn out slim, some start thin and develop their bulk as they mature. It’s hardly an exact science, especially in the young.

The cash would be better spent on giving drugs to folk who need it ( thinking of the Sutent type drugs) which the folk at NICE say are not cost effective.

Lilly · 09-08-2008, 20:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by BERNADETTE

It is reported that as of September primary school children will be weighed and if it is found that they are obese specialist nurses will be cold calling at their homes to offer help tackling the problem. Surely the money that is being spent on setting things like this up could be put to better use. I think a lot of parents will resent the fact that somebody is undermining their parenting skills.

If there is a medical reason why the child is obese then surely that will be noted. If not then if help is offered it should be accepted.
I don't suppose these nurses will be forcing anyone to do anything, just offering advice. Childhood obesity is a terrible problem these days and most people don't want their child to be obese so would accept help if offered.

Another point is that obesity in very young children cannot be the fault of the child so in absence of a medical issue it must be down to what the parents are feeding the child. These parents need help and education for the sake of their child.

emzy · 09-08-2008, 20:44

I was thin as a child and now struggle with my weight, my sister was "chubby" and is now a size 4 / 6, everyone changes as they get older

katex · 09-08-2008, 20:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by flashytart

maybe the money would be better spent on something like extra swimming lessons for them? afterall, swimming is one of the best forms of exercise for losing weight

No Flashy . swimming will help tone muscles, lose a few calories yes, but the only way to lose weight is not to overeat more than your body needs, knock off sugars ... e.g. biscuits, cakes, peanuts, chips, crisps, bread etc. Easy really.

I see loads of people at my gym in the pool overweight (well.. they are at least trying), but no weight loss that I can see as I spy them in the restaurant later at lunch tucking into pasta dishes and chips !

BERNADETTE · 09-08-2008, 20:45

Sorry but I feel that more than enough has been spent advertising health diets and so forth. People are being told they can't have drugs which could save their lives because there is no money in the pot, yet money can be found for schemes like this. Time to get priorities right IMHO

emamum · 09-08-2008, 20:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by BERNADETTE

Sorry but I feel that more than enough has been spent advertising health diets and so forth. People are being told they can't have drugs which could save their lives because there is no money in the pot, yet money can be found for schemes like this. Time to get priorities right IMHO

children dont need 'diets' they need healthy lifestyles....... diets actually make you fatter in the long run (apparently)

BERNADETTE · 09-08-2008, 20:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by emamum23

children dont need 'diets' they need healthy lifestyles....... diets actually make you fatter in the long run (apparently)

Exactly

Lilly · 09-08-2008, 20:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by emamum23

children dont need 'diets' they need healthy lifestyles....... diets actually make you fatter in the long run (apparently)

Quote:

Originally Posted by BERNADETTE

Exactly

Which is what these nurses will be advising when they call, is it not?

A change of lifestyle.

Bonnyboy · 09-08-2008, 20:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by BERNADETTE

Sorry but I feel that more than enough has been spent advertising health diets and so forth. People are being told they can't have drugs which could save their lives because there is no money in the pot, yet money can be found for schemes like this. Time to get priorities right IMHO

Agree totally

emamum · 09-08-2008, 21:00

yeah........ some childhood obesity is because of the parents ignorance...

the nurses might guilt the parents that dont care into doing something (sometimes happens when an outside agency becomes involved)and they will teach the parent that dont know better,

The partents do need help but not necassarily from nurses, dieticians and early years practitioners are qulified in child health and diet and nutrition and the nurses would be better off used elsewhere imo

West Ender · 09-08-2008, 21:01

I don't think a nurse calling on the parents will do much good. If a parent has a fat child, and doesn't try to do anything about it, it's more a case of "can't be ar$ed" than anything else.

My granddaughter is a well-built child. She has the same physique as her mother and her grandfather (my late husband, who wasn't at all fat but was broad shouldered and - just a big lad)), she's tall and big-boned but she isn't fat because her diet is sensible and she's encouraged to do a lot of physical activity such as dancing, swimming and cycling.

There can't be a parent alive today who doesn't know all about the dangers of obesity. If they haven't already tackled it - they never will.

Bonnyboy · 09-08-2008, 21:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by emamum23

children dont need 'diets' they need healthy lifestyles....... diets actually make you fatter in the long run (apparently)

Agree with that too.

I don’t think childrens society is healthier thesdays than when I was a kid ( I know zzzzzzzzz ) Sittin palaying on Playstations etc. seems to have taken over from kids going out and working up a good seat doing physical games.

Having said that, there were always chubby kids back then too, most likely always will be in the future. It has bog all to do with parenting in most instance as far as I’m concerned.

Lilly · 09-08-2008, 21:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by BERNADETTE

Sorry but I feel that more than enough has been spent advertising health diets and so forth. People are being told they can't have drugs which could save their lives because there is no money in the pot, yet money can be found for schemes like this. Time to get priorities right IMHO

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bonnyboy

Agree totally

This scheme will save lives too.

Some parents just need a little help and advice.

It's all for the good of the child. Obesity is a killer and it is said that many children today will die before their parents.