Strollerderby

I like the ideas but not the title - obesity is widely misunderstood in America today, and titles like this only add to the problem.

Considering that a very SMALL percentage of obese people are overweight due to forces beyond their control (ie: a medical condition) and the majority of obese people are so due to their own choices in life, such as parking their ass on the couch 20 hour out of the day and living on Micky D's and burger king. I think that the title is entirely appropriate, since getting outside and active is one of the biggest steps to healthy living, for the majority of people who are in control of their potential body shape.

Chase them, then chase them again, and again. I'm sure there are plenty of adult butts that could use some running too.

Health =/ weight.

If you look at the science, people with a BMI of 18-30 (yes, 30) have equivalent mortality rates.  Once you go over 30, mortality increases, but from 30-40 (yes, 40), it's still more dangerous to be UNDER 18 BMI than OVER 30.  

Weight is primarily determined by genetics. Yes, activity levels and eating habits can create changes in weight, but the range is determined by your genes.  (Disabling conditions can cause an increase in weight because of lack of mobility, often mistaken for fat people are lazy and can't move. Another fallacy.)

Americans are actually living longer and healthier than ever - deaths from "obesity correlated" (note: correlation /= causation) diseases such as Type II diabetes are DOWN and have been DOWN for at least five years.

Don't get me wrong - eating healthy and activity are important to HEALTH and I am in favor of increased HEALTH.  But HEALTH has nothing to do with WEIGHT, and the focus on WEIGHT is what turns our kids eating disordered (and leads to weight gain, if you're so worried - dieters and ED sufferers have higher weights than control groups).  

Let's all jump off the obesephobia bandwagon, shall we?

With all the GREAT HEALTH reasons to be active, why must we focus on WEIGHT, which is NOT CORRELATED with health except under 18 BMI and over 45 - and, btw, that's mortality rates, not HEALTH.

"obesity is widely misunderstood in America today" How? People eat loads of corn syrup laden crap food items all of the time and don't exercise, and don't let their kids out of the house becasue of fear of ridicule and stranger danger. How is that misunderstood? It is sad, and sad for the kids, and hard on our health care system.

weight is not primarily determined by genetics, it is determined by lifestyle choices. Healthy families pass down healthy habits, we do not call these habits genetics, obese people pass down unhealthy habits, and want to blame it all on genetics. It's in my genes, I can't help but scarf down another 4 big macs, wash it down with 24 ozs of pop, and watch  8 hours of tv.  

Um....I'm a fat girl.  Yep.  I'll admit it.  There are plenty of fruits and veggies in my fridge.  I balance my children's food.  We eat as much organic and natural stuff as our budget allows.  I try as hard as I can to model good behavior in front of my kids.  I'm losing weight.  We do go outside and move around.  A lot.  I'm not blaming my weight on genetics, but I would say that it does have something to do with it--explain the skinny kid/adult who eats like a horse and doesn't gain an ounce.  I also have hypothyroidism, which doesn't help in losing weight....

Being overweight doesn't make me a bad parent.  

And Stef, I have NEVER EVER been able to eat an entire Big Mac not to mention 4.

What's worse: the "obesity epidemic" or the judging-people-for-how-they-choose-to-treat-their-bodies epidemic? Why is a health issue so frequently equated with morals? Get off your danged high horses, people. I know plenty of skinny people with worse diets than heavier people. It's not necessarily what you're eating or how you're exercising that makes the difference: a lousy diet will pack the pounds on some people and leave others looking fine and feeling superior.

junkfoodscience.blogspot.com/.../eat-smart-teaches-children.html

Judging people for how they choose to treat their bodies epidemic? Is this not allowed? What about judging people for how they choose to treat their minds, is that off limits as well? or judging people for how they choose to treat their kids? Overconsumption and laziness don't just hurt the people who eat too much, they are also destroying the planet. Besides, since the article is about your kids, don't you think it's a disservice to them to let them get really really fat from inactivity? (which is the kind of fattening the article obliquely refers to!) Once they have reached an age of maturity they can treat their bodies however they want, and I will judge them harshly, but until then it's really unfair to saddle them with unhealthy habits and extra lbs that will be so much harder for them to lose later.