Children's Obesity--A Response

(I read an article today on the growing childhood obesity problem in America. The following was my written response to that article)

Everyone out there is incessantly pointing fingers to lay blame for the obesity problem in the United States. The fast food industry is causing it!; the genetic modification of seeds is the cause!; The processed foods so abundant in grocery stores is the problem!, etc, etc, etc.

Well, here's a novel approach...Instead of placing blame on this industry or that, how about taking personal responsibility for the health and well-being of your children? Are they active for two or three hours a day? Do they go outside to play? or do they sit around playing video games, or watching hours of TV? What are you, as a parent, doing on a daily basis to ensure that your children aren't growing fat due to inactivity?

The children of this country were healthy for generations, no matter what they ate. Obesity was extremely uncommon. Somewhere during the past twenty years, it became OK in American society to lead a sedentary lifestyle. Kids are playing less, running less and are generally less active.

What happened? Why the shift? What suddenly made it OK to allow our children to sit for hours doing very little, all while feeding them bigger portions, and consuming sugars in such mind-boggling quantities?

I suggest we all look at what we have done within our own families that has precipitated the obesity and subsequent health issues before pointing fingers. After all, no one is making you buy those fatty, sugary, empty foods for your family. No one is telling you that your kids must sit on their butts for mindless hours. How have you justified the decreasing health you have placed your kids in?

Think about it.