Enough already.
We’ve had our fill of governments that throw millions of dollars at problems in an effort to reshape thinking.
This time the United States has pitched $2.6 million to the development of a kid-friendly food guide that offers nutrition tips to prevent preteens from getting fat. (This from the country that in mid-1981 declared ketchup as a vegetable in school lunchrooms across the country – go figure.)
Seems it takes millions of dollars to convince children and their parents that a diet filled with ‘whoa foods’ – greasy potato chips, sticky candy bars and rich ice cream – can make one fat.
The US ‘We Can’ programme will instead teach children to eat – in moderation – ‘go foods’: lowfat milk, oatmeal and veggies.
We all know that obesity and the diseases associated with it are bad.
But for a government to throw millions of dollars at programmes designed to tell us which foods are bad for us is the wrong approach to solving the childhood-obesity problem.
What people in the US and the Cayman Islands need in general – and school children in particular – is more physical exercise.
It seems governments are willing to spend tons of money in a fruitless (pun intended) quest to change our children’s eating habits, but won’t spend a dime to institute the kinds of physical-education programmes that are needed.
Childhood obesity can’t be put at the feet of government and education alone. Parents, grandparents and guardians have a position of blame, too.
It’s common today to see children hitching a ride to go only a quarter of a mile when, in times past, the people of the Cayman Islands maintained strong minds and bodies by walking.
On arrival at home, after hitching a ride, many of these children are sinking down into comfortable recliners, couches or even beds and switching on televisions and turning on video games.
Turn off the TV.
Unplug the PlayStation.
Limit time on the computer.
Put the kiddies outside and let them explore nature, ride their bikes, go for a hike. Times were that many of us had to entertain ourselves after school and on the weekends. We weren’t allowed to lounge around the house. And if the weather didn’t allow outside activity there were always household chores to be done.
Make moderate exercise a mandatory part of every child’s life – at school and at home.
It’s the only way truly to combat childhood obesity.
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