Gothamist: When All Else Fails

Aristocrat

Wed, 06 Dec 2006 16:32:24 -0500

Alot of society's problems come down to "bad parenting" - crime, obesity, education, drug abuse, sociopathic behavior. Better parenting rarely is looked upon as the solution because we as a society to not feel we have the right to tell parents how to raise their children. Thus, we have to treat the symptoms, not the cause.

stewart

Wed, 06 Dec 2006 11:38:47 -0500

this should be like a sting when people show up with their obese kids they should be arrested for child abuse/neglect and their kids should be taken away

fatso

Wed, 06 Dec 2006 10:01:07 -0500

sorry, #2, but even people in low income areas have grocery stores that carry fruits and vegetables, beans, rice, pasta, cereal, milk, juice and yogurt. you don't need to have a whole foods in your neighborhood to eat healthy food.

Grammar Nazi

Tue, 05 Dec 2006 21:33:14 -0500

#6, there should be a comma between Proofread and people. Proofread, people.

edEx

Tue, 05 Dec 2006 16:46:45 -0500

*doctors can't make money fighting the ROOT of the problem! * they can make plenty of money finding the root of the problem by seeing children with these problems. finding alternate solutions like dieting and eating regiments. the bottom line is the parents are to blame for eating habits. as a child i was the one with vegatables trying to trade for pudding. needless to say i was made fun of but never once had the idea of killing the kids who made fun of me... nor did i wear a trenchcoat. my parents were always working but still had the ability to guide me in the right direction. i also had family friends, and relatives to help guide... i just do not buy this "my folks work all the time or are absent parents" story... inner city kids have rougher for sure, but their schools as much as their parents are to blame since they're just as responsible as the parents in nurturing young children and young adults.

Kojak

Tue, 05 Dec 2006 16:32:47 -0500

Jeaz. Guys . . . doctors can't make money fighting the ROOT of the problem! Once kids are nice and plump, THEN we can begin treatment! You all should know better.

rschnabel

Tue, 05 Dec 2006 16:18:33 -0500

I agree with edEx. The root of the problem is not being solved. How about parents stepping up and teaching their kids about healthy eating. Basically, don't eat so DAMN MUCH!

SoontobeFat

Tue, 05 Dec 2006 16:02:06 -0500

I thought about gorging to get on The Biggest Loser.

anonymass

Tue, 05 Dec 2006 16:01:57 -0500

Just a sad, sad snapshot of contemporary American society - viewed from different angles and none of them remotely flattering.

Peter

Tue, 05 Dec 2006 15:42:13 -0500

Some adults who aren't quite heavy enough for weight loss surgery, but can't or won't lose weight the old-fashioned way, gorge themselves in order to get heavy enough to qualify. I've no doubt that some crafty teens will get in the act themselves.

ugh

Tue, 05 Dec 2006 15:37:25 -0500

this reminds me of some kid I saw on some shit MTV show. He was in high school and extremely fat, and had to beg his doctor to say he needed gastric bypass for his health. Meanwhile, he was sneaking cheetos behind his mother's back, and basically just lazy. It's hard to not feel that people like that deserve their health problems.

Hi

Tue, 05 Dec 2006 15:27:24 -0500

Does anyone copyedit your posts? I mean seriously. This is ridiculous. Proofread people.

edEx

Tue, 05 Dec 2006 15:14:39 -0500

this is something that bothers me. trying to solve problems by avoiding the root of the problem. i always think back to the columbine shooting with crap like this. the root of the problem with that particular school shooting wasn't video games, trenchcoats or popular kids it was bad parenting. instead of immediately banning trenchcoats (this really happened) the school board should have had lengthy meetings with all the parents and set up an awerness center of sorts helping parents with their children. instead, they ban trnechcoats. yeah good idea, that'll stop those kids. with this situation with childhood obesity, this is not the answer... there shlould be school and home based programs that teach parents and children that bad health is bad for kids too. eating mcdonalds and then sitting on the couch with a bag of high fructose soda and transfat chips is not good, for anyone... workout programs and better gyms classes should also be mandatory. most of these obesity problems are avoidable, but as americans instead of blaming gluttony, self control and bad parenting we blame our organs. good job america!

jojo

Tue, 05 Dec 2006 15:08:52 -0500

The perfect solution is a slap to the face when you've eaten the 7th chicken mcnugget. Seriously, my mom never let me eat anything bad

Tom

Tue, 05 Dec 2006 15:02:21 -0500

Holy crap, how about just eating less rather than invasive surgery at 14? How is this different than giving a 14 year old breast implants?

Eric Smith

Tue, 05 Dec 2006 14:59:45 -0500

Interesting link, but the Daily News doesn't tell the full story. New York Presbyterian has also been involved in a setting up a childhood obesity clinic at its main branch (the former New York Hospital). This is part of their Pediatrics department. The clinic encourages heathly habits; it also recognizes that many low income people have poor food choices available in their neighborhoods.

njm

Tue, 05 Dec 2006 14:57:04 -0500

how does the food get to the intestine?