2008 Woodie Awards
Obese kids' parents are the true criminals
By: Nick Linville
Issue date: 10/26/07 Section: Opinion
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There is an abundance of domestic crimes that parents participate in across our country. Crimes such as neglect, abandonment, and abuse are just a few. Many of these heinous offenses have irreversible effects on a child's life. But there's a hidden crime that plagues America, rooted deep into every class and every culture.
The problem afflicts the rich as well as the poor, from the city to the suburb to the farmlands. This problem is not regulated, and although parents should be locked up who partake, they go unchecked in our society. The problem I am talking about is youth obesity in the U.S.
If a former college athlete is now a 300-pound man and is two Twinkies away from the truffle shuffle, then that is great: I am by no means making a case against obesity in America. If a 25-year-old man wants to shop at the big and tall store, then good for him. My case here is not against people who choose to let their weight get out of control. My main problem is with bad parents who let their children's weight get out of control.
A 4-year-old is clearly not self-sufficient and independent. So I find it very hard to believe that a 4-year-old would choose to eat a box of doughnuts followed by 30 cupcakes, but it happens. Whether it stems from stupidity or neglect on the parents' part, I don't know, but parents should be able to provide a moderately healthy lifestyle for their offspring. A toddler does not know any better than to eat what is presented; it's simple human nature. You are provided for until you can provide for yourself.
This being said, I do not wish to offend anyone who is overweight or in a caring relationship with an obese person. One of my closest friends from home is overweight and he is completely content with his weight. He was a healthy athlete for the majority of his adolescence and just recently started to gain weight. He happens to be very comfortable with his new image, and he also agrees that children should be given the opportunity to eat healthy.
The problem afflicts the rich as well as the poor, from the city to the suburb to the farmlands. This problem is not regulated, and although parents should be locked up who partake, they go unchecked in our society. The problem I am talking about is youth obesity in the U.S.
If a former college athlete is now a 300-pound man and is two Twinkies away from the truffle shuffle, then that is great: I am by no means making a case against obesity in America. If a 25-year-old man wants to shop at the big and tall store, then good for him. My case here is not against people who choose to let their weight get out of control. My main problem is with bad parents who let their children's weight get out of control.
A 4-year-old is clearly not self-sufficient and independent. So I find it very hard to believe that a 4-year-old would choose to eat a box of doughnuts followed by 30 cupcakes, but it happens. Whether it stems from stupidity or neglect on the parents' part, I don't know, but parents should be able to provide a moderately healthy lifestyle for their offspring. A toddler does not know any better than to eat what is presented; it's simple human nature. You are provided for until you can provide for yourself.
This being said, I do not wish to offend anyone who is overweight or in a caring relationship with an obese person. One of my closest friends from home is overweight and he is completely content with his weight. He was a healthy athlete for the majority of his adolescence and just recently started to gain weight. He happens to be very comfortable with his new image, and he also agrees that children should be given the opportunity to eat healthy.
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