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Researchers from Columbia University and Berkeley say they've proven that children attending schools near fast-food restaurants have higher-than-average obesity rates. Using data gathered from 1,047 California high schools over the course of eight years, the report [PDF] concludes that among 9th grade children, a fast food restaurant within a tenth of a mile of a school is associated with at least a 5.2 percent increase in obesity rates.
In response to the report's findings, Queens Councilman Eric "Jeopardy" Gioia is proposing a bill that would prohibit fast-food restaurants from opening within one-tenth of a mile of NYC schools. At a press conference yesterday, Gioia said the proposal—which would only ban new fast-food joints, not existing ones—should be just one tactic in a multi-front war against childhood obesity (he'd also like to see easier access to food stamps and more greenmarkets in low-income neighborhoods).
Gioia was joined yesterday by MeMe Roth, president of National Action Against Obesity, who told reporters, "You should imagine them as they age. They’re going to be pricking their fingers off and on all day long, checking their blood sugar. Toes and feet will be amputated. Many of these kids go on to have blindness. That’s why we need to do at least this." But Rick Berman, executive director of the Center for Consumer Freedom, has a few problems with the plan, telling the Times, "It’s the exercise and energy equation that has a whole lot more to do with obesity than people eating a hamburger or salad. And quite frankly, salads are available at fast-food restaurants." Of course, this is the same industry group that dismisses America's obesity epidemic as "hype."
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Is that the Michelin Man's kid?
Yeah, that's Bibendum's boy, "Ebendumber".
He can make money off of his image. as soon as possible cuz theze people don't live long. its sad but true.
Wouldn't the whole city be better off without the council and their constant stupidity? It's like "hey, our city has real problems. Let's ignore them and make up a bunch of crap instead!"
It's the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man!
C'mon, folks. Let's go easy on the kid on the photo.
I know. I feel bad for this kid. I've seen this photo so many times. The parents are the ones who deserve the negative attention.
His parents, most likely, don't think of themselves as the cruel people they actually are. I wish some evil genius could mastermind some plan to put birth control hormones into all fast food.
Finally, some change I can believe in!
Agreed. Just look at the table in front of him. That's no dinky Happy Meal. The kid is supersized because his parents supersized everything he eats.
true, the parents are pigs. they should be charged with abuse and he should be put on a treadmill.
I always feel terrible when I see that photo. It's like "Are you going to finish those McNuggets?"
Totally.
"You gonna eat that?....you gonna, hey! you gonna eat that?"
He's like a balloon animal
Is this the most important thing Gioia has on his mind? WTF?
Gioia is trying to rack up some points with Bloomberg,
I've seen this picture a few times now. He has become something of a poster boy for childhood obesity. Does anyone know the origins of this photo? Has the kid had that crucial first heart attack? Is he a Chicago Bears fan?
Nah, you gotta have at least 5 heart attacks before you can even be counted as a fan of Da Bears. This kid's got 2 or 3, tops.
The kid just has that "loud big fat obnoxious guido when I grow up" look about him. Feel sorry for him? Think again...
Freddy!
He looks to be 6 years old! It sounds like you had a rough childhood, but perhaps you should seek counseling rather than take out your anger on a little kid. Your problems are not his fault.
City Council proving once again just how useless they really are...
having fast-food free school zones isn't going to make a difference. If the parents let their kids eat there, that's THEIR problem.
Word, kids can hop on a train to get out of the fast-food-free zone!
Correlation does not imply causation.
I was going to say that- perhaps attending a school within short distance of a grease joint leads to higher obesity. Therefore they should declare school-free zones.
No?! But think of the children, you insensitive clod!!!
everybody duck! that kid's gonna blow!
The kid next to him isn't exactly skinny either.
Do you realize the name Gioia is the usual Italian name given to illegitimate children?
I thought it meant buck-toothed gnome...
no fatties!
his parent have to pay for a double/fattie seat if they fly on United Airlines.
you, ah, gonna eat that stapler?
That's the original "i can haz cheezburger?"
I call bullshit on this photo. The kid's head and hands look real, but the the rest is either a fat suit or some kind of prop. Check out where his right forearm meets his right hand- does it not look totally unnatural and discontinuous?
Also, how about the disproportionately large size of his arms vs. his torso? Does no one else think his arms look more like foam than human skin? How about the difference in skin tone between the face and chest?
If anyone can indicate a source for this oft-used image, I'd love to know where it came from and if it is, indeed, of a little white boy with an air-brushed, yellow-skinned perfect Goodyear Blimp body.
Obviously it's a fake if you look at the crease on his right bicep and the fold of fat at his right wrist. I don't care how fat a person is, skin doesn't wrinkle that way. But the kid next to him is genuinely fat.
The picture came from the Daily Mail, one of the biggest newspapers in the UK. They used it in an article about childhood obesity almost a year ago.
I agree. The kid next to him looks like he could easily be his brother. I wonder, though, why they would have an obviously significantly overweight child (you can tell by his face) wear extra fake fat and take a photo in McDonald's? What kind of fucked up point does this make? It's abuse.
Also, if you look closely at the thick wrists of the other boy, it becomes very clear that the first boy's wrists can't be real.
why don't we just put a scale in front of the register so that people can see they are over weight while there ordering then maybe they'll think twice before ordering that second big mac and i can continue to enjoy my double cheese burger ever once and awhile after the gym. Now I'm craving Mcdonald's
Correlation does not imply causation. Just because the fast food restaurant is near the school doesn't mean the kids even eat there. Maybe their mothers give them ice cream for breakfast at home.
Let's just assume these kids eat fast food for lunch 5 days per week. They still each 16 other meals per week (more than 75%), ostensibly with their parents. Some adult here is enabling, even if only by giving the kids the cash to buy the fast food. Why not charge the parents with neglect?
What if they pickup breakfast at McD's? Then they will be eating 5 more meals at a fast food restaurant. And what happens when the long line at the welfare office prohibits baby mama to get home in time to cook a delicious home cooked meal of fried chicken with mash. The child will go to sleep hungry unless he picks up a bucket from the colonel.
At least the weight conscious will order a diet Coke when they supersize their order.
My usually anorexic ribcage has started to show some flubber that simply won't go away. Am I overestimating my metabolism? Have I been heading down to the McDonalds on Flatbush & Fulton too much. One too many fries. I think i could use a burger? (Shake Shack actually, it's healthier isn't it?)
Well, it used to be a free country before every do-gooder busybody decided to tell everyone else how to live.
Lousy parenting is just an excuse to hand over more personal liberties to the government.