The odds of obesity appear stacked against black and Hispanic children starting even before birth, provocative new research suggests.Nutritional child abuse, again and as virtually always, by choice.
The findings help explain disproportionately high obesity rates in minority children. Family income is often a factor, but so are cultural customs and beliefs, the study authors said.
They examined more than a dozen circumstances that can increase chances of obesity, and almost every one was more common in black and Hispanic children than in whites. Factors included eating and sleeping habits in infancy and early childhood and mothers smoking during pregnancy...
Twenty percent of black and Hispanic children ages 2 to 19 are obese, versus 15 percent of whites, recent government data show.
In the racial disparities study, risk factors examined included: mothers smoking during pregnancy; unusually rapid weight gain in young infants; starting solid food before 4 months; mothers' routinely pressuring young kids to eat more; children sleeping less than 12 hours daily between 6 months and 2 years; and allowing very young kids to have sugary drinks, fast-food, and/or TVs in their rooms...
Many circumstances studied are more common in low-income, less educated families, including whites. Taveras said the researchers accounted for that and still found race was frequently a factor regardless of income.
The results may reflect cultural beliefs or influence from grandparents on feeding practices, but the good news, she said, is that almost every risk factor studied can be changed.
Tuesday, March 02, 2010
Striking number of obesity risks hit minority kids
And just about all of them are risk factors of choice. Which translates into we gotta stop paying for this and hold the parents accountable.
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2 comments:
As an African American Fitness Professional, these points are what I have been spending nearly 30 years in the fitness industry fighting. And culture is the biggest factor. There are foods that have been passed down from generation to generation that are literally killing blacks and Hispanics.
While it may be true that a lot of these habits were born out of poverty and a history plagued by inequality, etc. It is now a matter of choice in many instances. Rich or poor you would be hard pressed to find members of these minorities shunning the traditional foods that they grew up on(most of it fried and loaded with fat).
It is my opinion that we start making some new, healthier traditions based on choices that will empower us to live longer. And it should start with our youth. They should see our example and maybe they'll have a fighting chance.
The positive thing about all of these major health risks being habit related is that we don't have to wait for government to legislate healthy living. Our new health care plan can begin today.
Scott G. Smith aka "Captain Fitness"
http://www.fitkid.tv
Hello, Scott and welcome to Fitness Watch.
I first want to tell my readers that by leaving your post, I am not endorsing you, your approach to fitness or your sites.
In general, I remove posts that either link to or promote other sites.
The reason is simple. I have no control over the content and do not want my readers to think that I endorse what others might be saying when I have no good way of knowing all that they put out there.
Frankly, a lot of what is out there is worse than crap - it is harmful, IMHO.
I am leaving your post. Again, this is not an endorsement of what you preach.
It is, however, support for your story - assuming it is true - I have no way of really knowing.
Based upon what you say, as a loving, caring family person who has raised 6 kids, built a home with his wife and overcome economic/personal adversities, you are a testament to the "no excuses" approach necessary to success.
Excuses, entitlements, hopes, dreams, etc., are not action plans.
Perhaps there are roles for them - that is not the point I am addressing.
Effort, desire coupled with action, overcoming obstacles, etc., the personal history you describe, are what it takes.
This is as true for fitness as it is for other domains.
Again, assuming your story is true, congrats.
Hopefully, some will learn essential points from it.
Welcome back anytime.
Thanks for your comment.
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